Social networks and the spread of Lapita

Abstract

Lapita pottery seems to arrive in the Pacific out of the blue, and signal a new social, economic or ideological network. The authors show that widespread interaction, articulated by obsidian tools and stone mortars and pestles decorated with various motifs, was already in existence in New Guinea and New Britain. These earlier networks provide a preview of the social interaction that was to light up with the advent of Lapita.

Volcanism and Historical Ecology on the Willaumez Peninsula, Papua New Guinea

“…At that time Lapita pottery was introduced to the Willaumez Peninsula. It is possible that the disaster resulting from W-K2 seriously disrupted long-distance interaction indicated by the widespread distribution of stemmed tools in Melanesia, and this contributed to the appearance of Lapita-style pottery (Torrence and Swadling 2008).…”

“…A shiny, distinctive stone such as obsidian would certainly appeal to the senses and is therefore perfectly suited for exchange (Torrence 2005). In the form of unworked nodules, partly worked cores or preforms, and as highly worked products representing skilled craftsmanship, obsidian was passed among local groups and transported over enormous distances (e.g., Specht 1981, Summerhayes et al 1998, Rath and Torrence 2003, Torrence 2004a,b, Summerhayes 2007, Torrence and Swadling 2008, Torrence et al 2009). In addition, volcanic lavas (primarily rhyolite) that were probably sourced locally were used in the production of ground stone implements from the mid-Holocene up to recent times (e.g., Specht 2005Specht , 2007.…”

The Early Prehistory of Fiji

“…Torrence and Swadling (2008) propose that mid-Holocene social networks in New Guinea and surrounding islands, marked by the distribution of stemmed obsidian stone tools and stone mortars and pestles, could have encouraged the uptake and spread of Lapita material culture among indigenous groups -an idea that can be examined from the discovery of non-Austronesian sites that are contemporary with Lapita settlements in Island New Guinea. The existence of complex interaction networks involving what are likely to be prestige items in New Guinea-Island New Guinea implies the presence of stable social groups, which, alternatively, might have resisted migrant entry, or at least resisted the material culture of migrants.…”

“…The existence of complex interaction networks involving what are likely to be prestige items in New Guinea-Island New Guinea implies the presence of stable social groups, which, alternatively, might have resisted migrant entry, or at least resisted the material culture of migrants. One possible indication of this is the inland distribution of 'bird and wing' mortars in New Guinea where Lapita pottery has yet to be recorded (Torrence and Swadling 2008).…”

Middle Preclassic Interregional Interaction and the Maya Lowlands

“…Interregional interaction, long a topic of interest among archeologists (e.g., Urban 1987, 1992;Stein 2002) and other social scientists, may be investigated through many frames: trade, exchange, and ''action at a distance'' (e.g., Earle and Ericson 1977;Hirth 1992;Renfrew 1975), interaction spheres (Caldwell 1964;Freidel 1979), center-or core-periphery relations (e.g., Chase-Dunn and Hall 1991; Rowlands et al 1987), world-systems analysis (e.g., Blanton and Feinman 1984;Stein 1999;Wallerstein 2004), social networks (e.g., Torrence and Swadling 2008;Whallon 2006), state formation (e.g., Braswell 2003), migration, conquest, colonization, and other positions, alone or in combination. Relations may be analyzed from political, economic, social, religious, military, and evolutionary perspectives, and through various kinds of physical indicators ranging in scale from site orientations and architectural complexes to iconic symbols and portable material goods, including both ''exotic'' or prestige items and basic commodities.…”