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A Paleoenvironmental and Archaeological Model-Based Age Estimate for the Colonization of Hawai’l

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

J. Stephen Athens ,
Timothy M. Rieth  and
Thomas S. Dye
J. Stephen Athens
Affiliation:
International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., 2081 Young St., Honolulu, HI 96826 ([email protected], [email protected])
Timothy M. Rieth
Affiliation:
International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., 2081 Young St., Honolulu, HI 96826 ([email protected], [email protected])
Thomas S. Dye
Affiliation:
T. S. Dye & Colleagues, Archaeologists, Inc., 735 Bishop St., Suite 315, Honolulu, HI 96813 ([email protected])
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Abstract

Recent estimates of when Hawai’i was colonized by Polynesians display considerable variability, with dates ranging from about A.D. 800 to 1250. Using high resolution paleoenvironmental coring data and a carefully defined set of archaeological radiocarbon dates, a Bayesian model for initial settlement was constructed. The pollen and charcoal assemblages of the core record made it possible to identify and date the prehuman period and also the start of human settlement using a simple depositional model. The archaeological and paleoenvironmental estimates of the colonization date show a striking convergence, indicating that initial settlement occurred at A.D. 940–1130 at a 95 percent highest posterior density region (HPD), and most probably between A.D. 1000 to 1100, using a 67 percent HPD. This analysis highlights problems that may occur when paleoenvironmental core chronologies are based on bulk soil dates. Further research on the dating of the bones of Rattus exulans, a Polynesian introduction, may refine the dating model, as would archaeological investigations focused on potential early site locations.

Resumen

Resumen

Estimaciones recientes de cuando fue colonizado Hawai’i por los Polinesios muestran una gran variabilidad, con fechas superiores alrededor de 800 a 1250 d. C. Utilizando datos de núcleos paleoambientales de alta resolución y una cuidadosa definición de conjuntos de fechas arqueológicas de radiocarbono, se construyó un modelo Bayesian para el asentamiento inicial. La asociación de polen y de carbón de las muestras de núcleos hizo posible identificar y fechar el periodo pre-humano y el inicio del asentamiento humano utilizando un modelo de depósito simple. Las estimaciones arqueológicas y paleoambientales de la fecha de colonización muestran una sorprendente convergencia, indicando que el inicio del asentamiento ocurrió hacia 936–1133 d. C. en un 95 por ciento la región de mayor densidad posterior (HPD en inglés), y más probablemente entre 1000 a 1100 d. C, usando un 67 por ciento de HPD. Este análisis ilumina los problemas que pueden ocurrir cuando los fecha-mientos de núcleos paleoambientales se basan en las fechas del volumen de suelos. Además, investigaciones adicionales sobre la datación de huesos de Rattus exulans, una introducción polinesia, puede refinar aún más el modelo de fechamiento, asímismo que los las investigaciones arqueológicas estén enfocadas en las posibles ubicaciones de sitios tempranos.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 79 , Issue 1 , January 2014 , pp. 144 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2014

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