Polynesian settlement of the Marquesas Islands: The chronology of Hanamiai in comparative context

Abstract

Abstract

Hanamiai is a coastal dune site in the Marquesas Islands. The continuous cultural sequence extends from initial Polynesian colonization through European contact. We present a revised site chronology based on 14 new dates and Bayesian modeling of the entire series of 22 age estimates. Our results show that the start boundary for the earliest Hanamiai phase is AD 1160-1266 (95% credible interval). We also compared the Hanamiai chronology with the chronologies for seven other Marquesan sites. Finally, we estimated the tempo of Marquesan settlement and the age range for a transition in material culture from the Archaic to the Classic era.