Prehistoric Fishing at Fa'ahia, Huahine, Society Islands, French Polynesia - article ; n°2 ; vol.107, pg 145-157

J.M. Davidson, B. F.Leach, K. Fraser, G. Burnside

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Journal de la Société des océanistes - Année 1998 - Volume 107 - Numéro 2 - Pages 145-157
Une collection d'os de poissons provenant des fouilles du locus C50 à Fa'ahia (Huahine) est analysée et les résultats sont comparés à ceux d'une étude précédente de la faune provenant d'une aire adjacente du même site. Les prises du locus C50 sont dominées par le poisson- perroquet alors que, dans l'étude précédente, le thon était dominant. Un tel contraste entre des parties adjacentes du même site est des plus inhabituels dans le Pacifique. Diverses raisons possibles pour expliquer cette différence sont examinées ; une conclusion définitive doit attendre une compréhension plus complète de la nature de ce site archéologique remarquable.
An archaeological assemblage of fish bones from excavations at Locus C50 at Fa'ahia on Huahine was analysed and the results were compared with a previous study of faunal remains from an adjacent area of the same site. The catch from Locus C50 was found to be dominated by parrotfish whereas in the earlier study, tuna had been dominant. Such a contrast between adjacent parts of a single site is most unusual in the Pacific. Various possible reasons for this difference are explored; a firm conclusion must await a fuller understanding of the nature of this remarkable archaeological site.
13 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

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• Publié par: JOURNAL_DE_LA_SOCIETE_DES_OCEANISTES
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1998
• Nombre de lectures: 24
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Janet M. Davidson
B. F. Leach
K. Fraser
G. Burnside
Prehistoric Fishing at Fa'ahia, Huahine, Society Islands, French
Polynesia
In: Journal de la Société des océanistes. 107, 1998-2. pp. 145-157.
Résumé
Une collection d'os de poissons provenant des fouilles du locus C50 à Fa'ahia (Huahine) est analysée et les résultats sont
comparés à ceux d'une étude précédente de la faune provenant d'une aire adjacente du même site. Les prises du locus C50 sont
dominées par le poisson- perroquet alors que, dans l'étude précédente, le thon était dominant. Un tel contraste entre des parties
adjacentes du même site est des plus inhabituels dans le Pacifique. Diverses raisons possibles pour expliquer cette différence
sont examinées ; une conclusion définitive doit attendre une compréhension plus complète de la nature de ce site archéologique
remarquable.
Abstract
An archaeological assemblage of fish bones from excavations at Locus C50 at Fa'ahia on Huahine was analysed and the results
were compared with a previous study of faunal remains from an adjacent area of the same site. The catch from Locus C50 was
found to be dominated by parrotfish whereas in the earlier study, tuna had been dominant. Such a contrast between adjacent
parts of a single site is most unusual in the Pacific. Various possible reasons for this difference are explored; a firm conclusion
must await a fuller understanding of the nature of this remarkable archaeological site.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Davidson Janet M., Leach B. F., Fraser K., Burnside G. Prehistoric Fishing at Fa'ahia, Huahine, Society Islands, French
Polynesia. In: Journal de la Société des océanistes. 107, 1998-2. pp. 145-157.
doi : 10.3406/jso.1998.2054
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/jso_0300-953X_1998_num_107_2_2054Prehistoric Fishing at Fa'ahia, Huahine
Society Islands, French Polynesia
par
J.M. DAVIDSON, B.F. LEACH, K. FRASER, G. BURNSIDE *
ABSTRACT RESUME
An archaeological assemblage of fish bones from Une collection d'os de poissons provenant des fouilles du
excavations at Locus C50 at Fa'ahia on Huahine was locus C50 à Fa'ahia (Huahine) est analysée et les résul
analysed and the results were compared with a previous tats sont comparés à ceux d'une étude précédente de la
study of faunal remains from an adjacent area of the faune provenant d'une aire adjacente du même site. Les
same site. The catch from Locus C50 was found to be prises du locus C50 sont dominées par le poisson-
dominated by parrotfish whereas in the earlier study, perroquet alors que, dans l'étude précédente, le thon
tuna had been dominant. Such a contrast between adjaétait dominant. Un tel contraste entre des parties adja
cent parts of a single site is most unusual in the Pacific. centes du même site est des plus inhabituels dans le
Various possible reasons for this difference are explored; Pacifique. Diverses raisons possibles pour expliquer
a firm conclusion must await a fuller understanding of cette différence sont examinées ; une conclusion défini
the nature of this remarkable archaeological site. tive doit attendre une compréhension plus complète de la
nature de ce site archéologique remarquable. Key words : Pacific, French Polynesia, Society Islands,
Prehistory, Archaeozoology, Fauna, Fishing.
Introduction ried out by the Département Archéologie of the
Centre Polynésien des Sciences Humaines in
The extensive archaeological site of Tahiti.
Analysis of the faunal assemblage from one Vaito'otia/Fa'ahia on Huahine in the Society
area of Sinoto's excavations (Leach et al. 1984) Islands is one of the most important early East
Polynesian sites yet known, because of the revealed a heavy reliance on fast swimming pela
gic fish, particularly Scombridae l and Caran- quantity and nature of the material culture
recovered. The waterlogged cultural deposits gidae, as well as successful hunting of several
have preserved a range of wooden artefacts species of turtle and sea mammal. This was most
and plant remains unique in tropical Polynesia. unusual in our experience of Pacific faunal
Following the chance discovery of the site assemblages, although more recent studies of
in 1972, a series of investigations was underta fish remains from several sites in the Marquesas
have since revealed comparable catches of pelaken between 1973 and 1984 by the Bishop
Museum under the direction of Sinoto. From gic fish, particularly tuna (Leach et al. 1997b;
1983 to 1986, additional investigations were Davidson et al. n.d.).
* Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, New Zealand.
1 . Leach et al.{\ 984) described these as Thunnidae/Katsuwonidae or tuna. In our more recent work, following Nelson ( 1 994),
we have used the family name Scombridae and the common name tuna to refer to the tuna and bonito tribes of the sub-family
Scombrinae (Davidson et al. n.d.). 146 SOCIETE DES OCEANISTES
0 m 50
LAGOON
Fig. 1. — The Vaito'otia/Fa'ahia site on Huahine, showing the various areas excavated.
This paper reports the results of a study of fish (Sinoto 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1988;
remains from another area of Fa'ahia, Locus Sinoto and McCoy 1975a, 1975b). In 1977, back
C50, excavated by Pigeot on three occasions hoe digging for spoil for a tennis court, this time
between 1983 and 1985. The fish catch at Locus at Fa'ahia (ScH-1-2), uncovered more artefacts.
C50 proved to be different from that of the area In that year Sinoto carried out emergency exca
previously studied, although turtle remains were vations in Sections 1 , 2, 3, and 4 and dug test pits
again an important component of the total fau- in Section 5 and Zone B (Sinoto 1978, 1979). In
nal assemblage. We have not previously encount 1979 he excavated in Zone B (Sinoto and Han
ered such a marked difference between two 1980) and in 1980 in part of Section 5 between
parts of what is believed to be the same deposit. Sections 2 and 3 (Sinoto and Han 1981); in 1981
Variations from one area or layer of a site to he extended the excavations in Sections 3 and 5
another are usual, but the overall nature of the (Sinoto 1982); and in 1984 he carried out a fur
ther excavation in Section 3, immediately to the fish catch can generally be characterised as the
south of the area previously investigated there same. This is not the case at Fa'ahia. Because of
(Sinoto and Han 1985). this discrepancy and its significance for overall
In 1983, after consultation with Sinoto, the interpretations of this important site, we begin
Département Archéologie undertook investigawith a brief review of the archaeological invest
tions at Fa'ahia, with the specific objective of igations at Vaito'otia/Fa'ahia before discussing
carrying out an intensive study of habitation the fish remains from C50.
structures. Because Sinoto had found the bases
of posts and other domestic debris in Section 4,
they chose to work in this area (Fig. 2). In 1983, Archaeological investigations at Vaito'otia and
a long line of squares extending east and west of Fa'ahia
Sinoto's excavation and an area (Locus 1) immed
The site is situated in the grounds of the Hotel iately east of it were investigated (Pigeot 1986).
Bali Hai Huahine near Fare on the northwest In 1984 and 1985, an area excavation was under
coast of Nui (Fig. 1). It spans two taken at Locus C50 (Pigeot 1987).
traditional land tracts known as Vaito'otia and Although the full extent of the site has not
Fa'ahia. Following the chance discovery of arte been defined, it appears that the main area is
facts during dredging of ponds in the hotel situated some distance from the present beach.
grounds in 1972, initial investigations took place Zone B and the seaward part of Zone A at
at Vaito'otia (ScH-1-1) between 1973 and 1976 Fa'ahia were interpreted by Sinoto as marginal PREHISTORIC FISHING AT FA'AHIA, HUAHINE 147
LOCUS C1
LOCUS C50
eu cziL. en □ □ c
10 m
Fig. 2. — Excavations in Section 4 of Fa'ahia, showing the relationship of Locus C50 to Sinoto's excavation in 1 977.
and, in the case of Zone B, possibly occupied tsunami had invaded the site, disturbing and
later than the main part of Fa'ahia, which seems redepositing cultural material and covering the
to have centred around the smaller of the two occupation layer with fresh deposits (1979: 3,
dredged ponds. 1983: 587, 1988: 114-118; Sinoto and Han 1981:
The stratigraphy varies somewhat across the 7-8). However Dubois (1986) suggests that the
site but in general there is a single main cultural deposit above the occupation layer in Zone 4 was
laid down in the calm conditions of a lagoon or layer, always wet and usually completely water
logged. This overlies sterile beach deposits and lake. Thus the abandonment of some of the site,
in turn is overlain by further natural of at least, might have been due to gradually
sand and coral, on which the modern soil has increasing dampness, rather than to a catastro
formed. In Section 3 of Zone A, the source of