Marquesan ceramics, palaeotsunami, and megalithic architecture: Ho‘oumi Beach site (NHo‐3) in regional perspective

Abstract

The iconic Ho'oumi Beach site Nuku Hiva Island (Marquesas), was excavated by Robert Suggs in the late 1950s. It figured importantly in his island-wide reconstruction of settlement patterns, socio-political organisation, material culture and subsistence change -a cultural historical framework that has guided Marquesan archaeology for six decades. Ho'oumi is also one of four Marquesan localities where prehistoric ceramics have been found. We revisited Ho'oumi to acquire chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for two cultural occupations reported by Suggs. Eight 14 C determinations on short-lived materials and new marine reservoir corrections are reported, and the overall series evaluated using Bayesian modelling. A single ceramic sherd, previously assigned to a Fijian source, is attributed to the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries AD -a period when Marquesans engaged in long-distance voyaging. A significant marine inundation disrupted the associated occupation, leading to sustained coastal abandonment. Stratigraphic and historical evidence suggests this was a palaeotsunami, which may also be represented at Hane (Ua Huka Island). House pavements of the early occupation were replaced by raised megalithic house foundations, probably around the late seventeenth to mid-eighteenth centuries AD, but material culture changes were modest. By late prehistory, mature native forest was largely replaced by secondary species and Polynesian introductions.

Lost bioscapes: Floristic and arthropod diversity coincident with 12th century Polynesian settlement, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands

“…Layer IV was rich in organic matter, including both micro- and macro-botanical remains, well preserved arthropods, and variable concentrations of microcharcoal. Excavations extended to 250 cm below the current ground surface but did not reach bedrock, again contrasting with findings from other trenches to the north where coralline bedrock was encountered at 160 and 200 cm below surface [ 63 ].…”

“…Four stratigraphic layers were observed in excavation, largely differentiated on colour as all were of sandy textures ( Fig 3 , Table 1 ). No evidence of in situ cultural activities was observed within Trench 1, contrasting with findings from three other trenches to the north, situated on slightly higher ground [ 63 ]. Layer II of Trench 1 may represent a palaeotsunami deposit based on evidence from other nearby trenches.…”

“…Archaeological excavations in the late 1950s by Robert Suggs [ 62 ] uncovered evidence of two prehistoric cultural occupation layers at Ho‘oumi Beach, separated by a thick deposit of sand that may represent a palaeotsunami [ 63 ]. The upper cultural stratum is contemporaneous with the traditional raised stone house foundations ( paepae ) that persist on the northern coastal flat, while the lower cultural layer was associated with simple flagstone style pavements.…”

“…The upper cultural stratum is contemporaneous with the traditional raised stone house foundations ( paepae ) that persist on the northern coastal flat, while the lower cultural layer was associated with simple flagstone style pavements. In 2011, new archaeological research was carried out [ 63 ] to acquire chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for Suggs’ [ 62 ] earlier findings, which have figured importantly in archaeological reconstructions of traditional Marquesan history. The excavations were restricted to an area approximately 50 by 80 m on the northeast side of the river and to land under government jurisdiction, specifically within 50 m of the coast.…”

“…The excavations were restricted to an area approximately 50 by 80 m on the northeast side of the river and to land under government jurisdiction, specifically within 50 m of the coast. As part of this initiative, the two cultural occupations were 14 C-dated, the upper layer to the late prehistoric period and the lower occupation to between the 13 th and 14 th centuries AD [ 63 ]. Notably, both occupations are stratigraphically superior to, and radiometrically post-date, the exceptional anaerobic deposit reported here.…”