Polynesian and other Oceanic societies have often informed research into social
complexity. McGuire (1983) has proposed a means of measuring complexity that
does not assume any particular organizational form. The examination of prehistoric
household remains allows archaeologists to compare common units of social organization
across societies for more meaningful comparisons of past social organization.
This paper discusses house remains excavated on three islands in the Southern Cook
Islands of central Polynesia for the information they provide about past social
organization on the islands and provides comparison between three closely related
island societies.
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