Landscapes of War: Rules and Conventions of Conflict in Ancient Hawai'i (And Elsewhere)

Abstract

Con base en una comparacion del abundante registro etnohistorico referente a los confiictos prehistoricos en Hawai 7 con la evidencia de guerras en otras culturas, se proponen algunas similitudes bdsicas en su causa y efecto entre muchas culturas hegemonicas complejas. En Hawai'i hay tres tipos de restos arqueologicos que indican que el sacrificio humano y la construccion ritual a una escala monumental formaban parte integral de las contiendas belicas de conquista previas a la epoca del contacto (1778 d.C). Sin embargo, los hawaiianos invirtieron mucho menos trabajo en la respuesta a largo plazo a las posibles amenazas a la

Paleoclimates and the emergence of fortifications in the tropical Pacific islands

“…As has been argued elsewhere, the frequency of fortification construction over time could also be explained as a product of population growth and evolving cultural complexity (Earle, 1991;Johnson and Earle, 1987;Kirch, 1984). Hawai'i has often been used as a model for this mode of development, as it is thought to have generated a dense population near the end of the prehistoric period, which also appears to be the time that fortifications and fortified caves were developed (Hommon, 1986;Kolb and Dixon, 2002). However, equally large and diverse archipelagoes such as New Caledonia and Vanuatu lack fortifications, despite their long histories of colonization and potentially high population levels.…”

A cost surface model of volcanic glass quarrying and exchange in Hawai‘i

“…Instead the uplands are part of an extended barren zone, located between the major field systems of Kona, N. Kohala and Waimea. This area is primarily known for refuge caves used as temporary shelters in times of conflict (Kolb and Dixon, 2002).…”

Who Benefits from Complexity? A View from Futuna

“…The New Guinea big man, Ongka, recounted attempts on his life by his rivals (Nairn 1991), and there are many instances of Polynesian chiefs at all levels of complexity being sacrificed by victorious rivals as well as many accounts on Futuna of local and paramount chiefs being overthrown through intrigue or through war (Douaire-Marsaudon 1998:101, Viala 1919. As Earle (1997:140) notes, chiefs rarely died old; most died in conflicts (see also Kolb and Dixon 2002, Sahlins 1983:77, Stevens 1996.…”