Fijian cannibalism: Osteological evidence from Navatu

Abstract

The hypothesis that the human remains from the Navatu midden (50 BC to AD 1900) in Fiji represent cannibalized individuals was tested by an analysis of the skeletal remains. The site includes formal human burials and a separate, contemporaneous midden containing commingled fragmentary human and nonhuman bones. All remains were examined for a variety of modifications. The medium mammal and human remains in the midden have similar modifications: ancient breaks (92% of midden human specimens and 88% of medium mammal specimens), burning (29% and 11%), crushing (1% and 1%), cutmarks (9% and 8%), peeling (4% and 1%), and percussion pits (1% and 1%). The human burials (for which cannibalism had not been hypothesized) are essentially unmodified except for some breakage. The pattern of element representation and low incidence of animal bitemarks rules out carnivores and rodents as major modifiers of the assemblage. The breakage patterns, element representation, light weathering, and rarity of random striae indicate that sediment pressure, wave action, weathering, and trampling did not significantly alter the remains. The modifications of the midden human and nonhuman remains generally correspond in type and frequency. The evaluation of the assemblage's taphonomic history suggests that most of the modifications were caused by humans. The Navatu midden human sample does not resemble assemblages interpreted as secondary burials with defleshing, nor does it resemble violence-derived assemblages. The burials at Navatu and other Fijian sites indicate that the various noncannibalistic Fijian mortuary rituals do not mimic butchery and consumption. Therefore, the hypothesis of cannibalism at Navatu is supported.

Identification of the first reported Lapita cremation in the Pacific Islands using archaeological, forensic and contemporary burning evidence

“…These include burning, cut marks, percussion pits, peeling, peri mortem fractures, anvil abrasions, an under-representation of vertebrae, similarities between other butchered fauna at the site, and dissimilarities of element representation compared with contemporary burials (Cá ceres et al, 2007;Cochrane et al, 2004;Degusta, 1999Degusta, , 2000Hurlbut, 2000;White, 1992). However, because of the difference in cooking methods and consumption preferences in the Pacific compared with other regions of the world the criteria of anvil abrasions and an under-representation of vertebrae may not be relevant for these remains (Pietrusewsky et al, 2007).…”

Cultural Modifications in an Adolescent Earth-Oven Interment from Fiji: Sorting out Mortuary Practice

“…Alternatively, the diagnostic criteria proposed by DeGusta (1999DeGusta ( , 2000 may not be applicable to this case since they were developed from assemblages significantly different from this one (e.g., MNI greater than one, habitation areas, midden context, etc.). DeGusta's diagnostic criteria do not easily accommodate the use of an earth-oven for cooking with steam rather than flame (lower frequency of burning), the use of bamboo for cutting (fewer and fainter cut marks), or the selection of meat over fat/marrow (lower rates of fragmentation, fewer cut marks).…”

“…However, early investigations lack the rigor required by modern analyses and so should be viewed with some caution. As Rieth (1998) and DeGusta (1999DeGusta ( , 2000 have shown, the application of rigorous, quantifiable, taphonomic dimensions and stringent criteria succeed in producing a much more accurate description of these complex midden assemblages as well as providing stronger evidence for cannibalism. Although the archaeological record is sparse, there is no apparent evidence for cannibalism in the early stages of Fijian prehistory, and the first strong evidence appears only after 50 BC on the island of Viti Levu, during a time of expanding population and settlement shifts.…”

“…Although the number of accounts of cannibalism among the early inhabitants of Fiji is substantial, archaeological claims for cannibalism here remain sparse (DeGusta 1999;Rechtman 1992;Spennemann 1987). While not necessarily discussed as cannibalism per se, human bone does appear in middens and other contexts on islands throughout the Pacific suggesting butchering of humans (Anton and Steadman 1997;Kirch 2000;Poulsen 1987).…”

Site chronology and a review of radiocarbon dates from Fiji

“…Thesis and published research also divide neatly into Palmer's three research subjects, with the study of warfare, fortifications and socio-political complexity (Frost 1970;Clunie 1977;Best 1984;Parry 1987;Rechtman 1992;Cochrane 2004;Field 2004), mid-sequence ceramic and social change (Hunt 1980;Best 1984;DeGusta 1999;Clark 2000;Burley 2003Burley , 2005, and the excavation and analysis of Lapita sites (Birks 1973;Mead et al 1973;Best 1981Best , 1984Kay 1984;Anderson 2001a). The radiocarbon results from the EPF, along with age determinations obtained in recent investigations, now make it practicable to revisit the chronology of these recognised inflection points in the Fijian sequence.…”