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Late Ceramics in Samoa: A Test Using Hydration‐Rim Measurements 1
Abstract
Les ceramiques mises au jour sur le site d'Aoa (ile Tutuila, Samoa) semblent dater de 1000 ans d'apres l'abandon presume de la poterie en Polynesie occidentale. Les auteurs rapportent ici les resultats d'un test visant a verifier la probabilite d'une existence plus tardive de la ceramique, grâce a l'utilisation de la methode de mesures par hydratation des objets en obsidienne decouverts sur le site
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck authors an archaeological survey for prehistoric and historic properties covering approximately 56.19 acres conducted on Nu’utele Islet, off the western coast of Ofu Island, Manu’a Archipelago. This survey was completed for the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”), as amended. The project resulted in the identification and recordation of a historic site, AS-13-003, comprising thirty-eight (38) features including eight (8) natural features associating with Samoan legends. A National Register Nomination will be submitted for the Fo’isia Legendary Site and Nu’utele Islet (AS-13-003), specifically Feature 010, the Fo’isia Tupua or sacred stone.
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck authors an archaeological survey, for prehistoric and historic properties covering approximately 353 acres, conducted in Malaeloa, Tutuila Island, American Samoa, for the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”), as amended. The project resulted in the identification and recordation of two types of sites: forty (40) precontact sites and four (4) World War II sites. Our firm identified seven (7) World War II features and one-hundred and seventy-three (173) precontact locales. A National Register Nomination was submitted for Site AS-32-16 comprising Features 4 to 19, the Malaeloa Olo, a precontact defensive fortification.
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck authors an archaeological survey for prehistoric and historic properties covering approximately 50 acres conducted in and around Luatele or Judds Crater, on Ta’u Island, for the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”), as amended. The project resulted in the identification and recordation of twenty-four (24) historic sites comprising one hundred and one (101) archaeological features and one natural feature that associates with a Samoan legend. A National Register Nomination will be submitted for five (5) sites: AS-11-100 to AS-11-104, representing Features 001 to 017, consisting of three (3) tia seu lupe (pigeon-catching mounds), four (4) oval boulder mounds, and platforms, rock walls, and terraces associated with Solo Tagata or “line of people,” precontact features on the rim of Judds Crater.
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck and co-author provide the archaeological analysis of the Leone archaeological site conducted to keep a road revetment project, for the Federal Highway Administration (“FHA”), in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”), as amended. The Act requires all federally funded projects to record and mitigate damage to historic sites, usually greater than fifty (50) years of age. The American Samoa Historic Preservation Office (“ASHPO”) requires that construction crews follow both the mandates of the NHPA, the American Samoa Coastal Management Act of 1990 (“ASCMA”), and adhere to the provisions of the American Samoa Project Notification and Review System (“PNRS”), which further protects historic sites.
Although the FHA employed a proficient archaeologist, the late David Kennedy, to survey for prehistoric sites, Kennedy did not find the prehistoric site at Leone, a town on the southwest coast of Tutuila Island in American Samoa. During a subsequent PNRS survey, in May of 2012, ASHPO archaeologists identified the site. To fulfill the requirements of the NHPA, ASHPO archaeologists completed Phase I, II, and III mitigation activities at the locale. Assisting the ASHPO was an archaeology crew from the American Samoa Power Authority (“ASPA”) and volunteers primarily from Leone village. These methodologies comprised the clearance of vegetation, pedestrian surveys, the mitigation of shovel-test pits, and excavation of square-meter units.
Archaeologists retrieved an array of artifacts including Polynesian plainware ceramic sherds, adzes, adze pre-forms, debitage, fire-cracked rocks, scrapers, and blades. The use of ceramics at Leone and two other sites indicate ceramic utilization was more widespread than previously recorded in archaeological literature. This study serves to highlight the need for additional surveys in western Tutuila Island and along Polynesian shorelines.
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck authors an archaeological identification project for prehistoric and historic properties covering approximately 70 acres was conducted on Breakers Point for the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office, in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (“NHPA”), as amended. The project resulted in the identification and recordation of two sites: World War II defensive fortification complex (AS-23-64) and a precontact site (AS-23-65) that comprised 77 features and more sub-features (loci) and artifacts. There are 62 World War II features belonging to AS-23-64 and 23 precontact features ascribed to AS-23-65. A nomination for the U.S. National Register of Historic Places will be submitted for sites AS-23-64 and AS-23-65.
... However, "Lapitoid" is often used interchangeably to denote Polynesian Plainware (Rieth & Hunt 2008). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
... The general academic consensus is that Polynesian Plainware ceramic sites ended sometime around 1700 BP although Clark objects to this view suggesting ceramics might have persisted after this period (Kirch 1986;Addison et al. 2006;Addison et al. 2008;Clark & Michlovic 1996). This disappearance of ceramics in American Samoa is documented at the To'aga Site (Kirch & Hunt 1993) but perhaps not at 'Aoa (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997). Potential causes for the cessation or decline of ceramic use in Samoa include transitions in function; the development of new technology, especially umu ovens that did not require ceramic material; the influx of new populations into American Samoa; cultural transitions that lessened the availability of ceramic specialists; or a combination of aforementioned factors. ...
Archaeologist Joel Klenck completed an NRHP Nomination of the Malaeloa Olo Site, located 1.5 miles north of junction of Malaeloa Road and Route 001. The Site is owned by tribal members from the village of Malaeloa Itu’au but located within the administrative boundaries of the village of Malaeloa Aitulagi, in Leasina County, in western Tutuila, the largest island of American Samoa. This nomination comprises a single site on a ridge line comprising a raised earth platform, with three lower levels of terraces, and two lunate-shaped mounds and trenches positioned in a perpendicular manner across the most gradual approaches to the site. The Site’s association with a defensive fortification or olo is supported by Samoan cultural histories and oral traditions relating to interregional conflicts and defenses against cannibalism during precontact periods; and archaeological analogues, where similar highland features, to the west across the agricultural lowland area in Malaeloa, were ascribed to defensive features (Winterhoff et al. 2006).
... The term Polynesian Plainware was proposed by Green (1974), and later became popular term used by Hunt (1987), Clark and Michlovic (1996), and in later studies (Eckert 2006). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
Following Federal and local statutes, archaeologists from the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office and American Samoa Power Authority excavated three sites on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. At these locales: Maloata, Fagamalo, and Leone, archaeologists retrieved Polynesian Plainware ceramic sherds, adzes, adze pre-forms, volcanic glass, lunate-shaped lithic artifacts, blades, scrapers, and other artifacts. The retrieval of ceramic artifacts at these sites indicates ceramic utilization was more widespread than previously recorded in archaeological literature. Further, artifacts from Maloata and Fagamalo suggest the possibility of ceramic manufacturing locales.
... The term Polynesian Plainware was proposed by Green (1974), and later became popular term used by Hunt (1987), Clark and Michlovic (1996), and in later studies (Eckert 2006). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
Following U.S. Federal and local statutes, archaeologists from the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office and American Samoa Power Authority excavated three sites on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. At these locales: Maloata, Fagamalo, and Leone, archaeologists retrieved Polynesian Plainware ceramic sherds, adzes, adze pre-forms, volcanic glass, lunate-shaped lithic artifacts, blades, scrapers, and other artifacts. The retrieval of ceramic artifacts at these sites indicates ceramic utilization was more widespread than previously recorded in archaeological literature. Further, artifacts from Maloata and Fagamalo suggest the possibility of ceramic manufacturing locales.
... The term Polynesian Plainware was proposed by Green (1974), and later became popular term used by Hunt (1987), Clark and Michlovic (1996), and in later studies (Eckert 2006). Several sites on Upolu, Manono and Apolima islands in Western Samoa also date to this early Polynesian Plainware period (Clark, Sheppard, & Jones 1997;Clark, Wright, & Herdrich 1997). ...
Following U.S. Federal and local statutes, archaeologists from the American Samoa Historic Preservation Office and American Samoa Power Authority excavated three sites on Tutuila Island in American Samoa. At these locales: Maloata, Fagamalo, and Leone, archaeologists retrieved Polynesian Plainware ceramic sherds, adzes, adze pre-forms, volcanic glass, lunate-shaped lithic artifacts, blades, scrapers, and other artifacts. The retrieval of ceramic artifacts at these sites indicates ceramic utilization was more widespread than previously recorded in archaeological literature. Further, artifacts from Maloata and Fagamalo suggest the possibility of ceramic manufacturing locales.
... Since the implication of the presence of hydration in obsidian (Ross and Smith, 1955) and the new dating method in using observed hydration rinds introduced into archaeology in 1960 (Friedman and Smith, 1960), over the last five decades, OHD has been popularized to furnish the dates for prehistoric sites and assemblages. Obsidian artifacts both in buried and surface contexts have been used in regions where obsidian artifacts are ubiquitously found, notably in southern Pacific coast of North America (e.g., Bettinger, 1980;Meighan, 1983;Origer, 1989;Hull, 2001;Rogers and Yohe, 2011), Great Basin (Jones and Beck, 1990;Jones et al., 2003), American Southwest (Findlow et al., 1975;Ridings, 1996), East Africa (Michels et al., 1983a,b;Ambrose, 2012), Mesoamerica (Webster and Freter, 1990;Braswell, 1992;Freter, 1993;Riciputi et al., 2002), coastal Peru (Eerkens et al., 2008), central Andes (Tripcevich et al., 2012), Oceania (Ambrose, 1994;Clark et al., 1997), interior Alaska (Clark, 1984), and Japan Kondo, 1965, 1976;Suzuki, 1971). The major reasons why OHD is accepted by archaeologists are: (1) relative easiness in the procedure of observations, measures, and calculations of dates, (2) specimens can be coupled with temporally sensitive techno-typological units such as projectile points (e.g., Jones and Beck, 1990), (3) while analysts can accommodate a large number of specimens for dates, the cost to obtain dates is not expensive (lower than the radiometric dates such as radiocarbon dating), and (4) depending on the effective hydration temperature, the applicable range of dating is deep enough to cover from the Middle Pleistocene (780,000 BP) to historic period (Friedman and Smith, 1960;Michels and Tsong, 1980;Origer, 1989). ...
Since its novel invention in 1960, obsidian hydration dating is now recognized as the chronometric method to give dates of archaeological sites, based on measurements of hydration rim thickness. Contrary to the increased awareness of various factors that affect hydration rates and reliability in measurements, the question whether and the extent to which the validity in the rim thickness measurements corresponds to the interested event has been less discussed. Here, validity of obsidian hydration dates that designate event of human site occupations is discussed in terms of site integrity of the Early Jomon midden in the Holocene site of Ocharasenai (OCH), Hokkaido, northern Japan. Expected integrity of the midden evidently left by prehistoric hunter–gatherers is tested through a comparison of microscopically-measured average rim thicknesses between the primarily extracted specimens and those chosen after assessing the validity. No statistical difference in estimated hydration dates between these two groups supports high integrity of the midden. The estimated date for the Early Jomon occupation at the OCH is 4388–4942 BP, fallen into the end of Middle Holocene. Results of the present examination indicate that obsidian hydration dating will aid to understand site formation processes.
... Furthermore, the later age was associated with Polynesian Plainware. If confirmed, this would lend support to the "late ceramics" hypothesis that suggests that the use and manufacture of pottery lasted until 300-400 years ago in American Samoa (Clark, 1996;Clark & Michlovic, 1996;Clark, Sheppard, & Jones, 1997). ...
Archaeological investigations at Aganoa, a coastal site in American Samoa, western Polynesia, revealed a marine resources exploitation base for the early inhabitants of the island. A series of 19 radiocarbon age determinations indicates the principal period of site utilization began no later than 570 B.C., and probably earlier, and lasted for about 300 years. This site is squarely in the phase identified by previous scholars as “ancestral Polynesian.” Geophysical survey in the form of long, shore-perpendicular transects showed the accretionary history of this beach and ridge area. Surprisingly, it revealed that the earlier ridges were directly below the modern ridge (i.e., progradation of this geomorphic feature had not occurred). The survey revealed a buried paleosol with little or no disturbance, which yielded a well-preserved assemblage of plain and decorated ceramics, stone artifacts, fishhooks, and archaeofauna. No evidence of archaeological continuity was seen between the end of the terminal Lapita occupation and the later reoccupation of the site after about A.D. 700. This study demonstrates the utility and feasibility of using ground-penetrating radar for the discovery of deeply buried coastal sites.
... This was followed by another campaign led by Jesse Jennings from University of Utah in 1974(Jennings and Holmer 1980Jennings et al. 1976. These excavations and surveys and subsequent investigations in American Samoa have provided a firm foundation for an outline of Samoan prehistory from an archaeological perspective Hunt and Kirch 1988;Clark and Herdrich 1993;Clark and Michlovic 1996;Clark et al. 1997;. ...
In West Polynesia, monumental structures with a volume >= 2500 m(2) include mounds of earth or stone that in traditional history were used to house or bury chiefs, as well as being the focus of ceremonial and religious activity. We review archaeological theory about the initiation of monumental architecture and examines how chiefly and high-status activity might be identified. Large structures with monumental dimensions often have a complicated construction history that spanned several centuries indicating change to the social structure, particularly the power of elites. As a result archaeologists need to develop ideas that relate episodes of architectonic change to alterations in the prehistoric socio-political system.
... By AD 1000–1300 a large-scale basalt tool industry was widespread on Tutuila (Addison 2002; Addison and Radewagen n.d.; Best et al. 1989; Clark 1993; Leach and Witter 1987, 1990). Tutuila basalt tools have been found in many parts of the southwest Pacific (Best et al. 1992; Clark et al. 1997). ...
A Polynesian Plainware-bearing cultural deposit underlying a volcanic ash deposit is described for Pava'ia'i, Tutuila Island. The cultural deposit dates to c. cal AD 240-640. Volcanic activity on Tutuila is inferred to have continued until at least this period. Metric attributes and rim form of a 33-sherd assemblage from the site (Site AS-31-171) are summarised. The uniqueness in Samoa of the deposit as an undisturbed primary ceramic-bearing deposit with well defined chronology is proposed. Effects of the late Holocene volcanism on prehistoric human populations of Tutuila are suggested.
Obsidian hydration dating is a widely used method of determining the age of flaked obsidian by measuring the thickness of the hydration rind on a sample. All obsidian absorbs water into its surface. The depth of the hydrated layer is a function of obsidian chemistry, temperature and time. Recent research has made this method much more reliable and useful, both for relative and absolute dating.
: Some aspects of prehistoric material culture of Samoa were described by Buck, Thompson and Freeman in 1920s-60s, but archaeological work did not begin until 1957, initially by Jack Golson and Wal Ambrose. Work in American Samoa was conducted by Kikuchi in 1963 and continued by Emory and Sinoto in the mid 60's. Subsequent to the independence of Western Samoa, two archaeological programs under the leadership of Roger Green in the 1960s and Jesse Jennings in the 1970s respectively have laid a firm foundation for the understanding of Samoan prehistory from an archaeological point of view. Subsequent research in American Samoa has also added to this knowledge. This review describes some of the major findings and contributions of archaeological research in Samoa and discusses important theoretical and methodical issues for future research.
This paper presents a provenance study of 170 ceramic artifacts and 21 ceramic tiles from three islands in the Samoan archipelago using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Our analyses confirm that LA-ICP-MS can be used to differentiate between clay formations on a single island. We identify different distribution patterns for pottery recovered from lowland and highland sites on Tutuila Island. We also examine evidence for movement of pottery between islands, and find only limited evidence for such movement. Our findings suggest dynamic patterns of prehistoric interaction and site use that need to be evaluated with further data from across the archipelago.
The pace of archaeological research in Polynesia has intensified in recent years, resulting in more than 500 new literature
citations over the past decade. Fieldwork has continued in such previously well-studied archipelagoes as Tonga and Samoa in
Western Polynesia, and Hawai’i and New Zealand in Eastern Polynesia, and has expanded into previously neglected islands including
Niue, the Equatorial Islands, the Austral Islands, and Mangareva. The emergence of Ancestral Polynesian culture out of its
Eastern Lapita predecessor is increasingly well understood, and the chronology of Polynesian dispersal and expansion into
Eastern Polynesia has engaged several researchers. Aside from these fundamental issues of origins and chronology, major research
themes over the past decade include (1) defining the nature, extent, and timing of long-distance interaction spheres, particularly
in Eastern Polynesia; (2) the impacts of human colonization and settlement on island ecosystems; (3) variation in Polynesian
economic systems and their transformations over time; and (4) sociopolitical change, especially as viewed through the lens
of household or microscale archaeology. Also noteworthy is the rapidly evolving nature of interactions between archaeologists
and native communities, a critical aspect of archaeological practice in the region.
The purpose of this thesis is to present the morphological and chemical analyses of the lithic assemblage recovered from Aganoa Village (AS-22-43), Tutuila Island, American Samoa. Implications were found that include the fact that Aganoa Village did not act as a lithic workshop, new types of tools that can be included in the Samoan tool kit, a possible change in subsistence strategies through time at the site, and the fact that five distinct, separate quarries were utilized at different stages through the full temporal span of residential activities at the village. The assemblage was analyzed macroscopically using typologies for tools that are set and accepted by archaeologists of the area (Green and Davidson [1969] for adzes, Clark and Herdrich [1993] for flake tools). It was found that a possible new flake tool type is represented at Aganoa Village that combines the attributes of Class Ia and Class V. Analysis of the debitage refutes earlier conclusions that the site represents a lithic workshop. The presence of rejuvenation flakes with polish, a large amount of tertiary debitage as opposed to primary debitage, and the recycling/conservation of finished adzes indicates that this site was indeed not a lithic workshop area. In the earliest cultural period (c 2500-2000 years ago) there is a distinct lack of flake tool scrapers while the other two cultural periods presented 40 examples of such tools. These scrapers are used primarily for processing agricultural products. The fact that these tools are missing from the earliest settlement period suggests that these early inhabitants might have relied more on gathering marine resources from the nearby reef system rather then agricultural subsistence strategies. Finally, INAA results show that the lithic artifacts collected come from five different sources. Two of these sources were identified as the Lau'agae Quarry on the eastern side of Tutuila Island and the Tataga-Matau Quarry Complex located on the western portion of the island. Three other basalt types were distinguished but not sourced or located.
Between 1988 and 1991, I directed five archaeological research projects in American Samoa. The goal of that research was to reveal changes in the prehistoric settlement system of Samoa, from initial colonization of the archipelago to the time of significant European contact. The chronological placement of key sites was an essential facet of the research. A secondary goal was to locate sites with ceramic components, particularly sites with Lapita ceramics, and relate the ceramic assemblages typologically and chronologically to those known for Western Samoa. These investigations generated 1614C dates from archaeological contexts. I present here the previously unpublished 14C data from those samples, and briefly summarize their importance for understanding Samoan prehistory.
The Samoan Islands are critically important for understanding the prehistory of the central Pacific. In this paper we discuss investigations carried out at site AS-21-S in 'Aoa Valley, on the north coast of eastern Tutuila Island, American Samoa. 'Aoa, along with Mulifanua, on 'Upolu, and To'aga, on Ofu' is one of the earliest sites in the archipelago, with occupation dating back some 3000 years. The early component at 'Aoa is significant for its antiquity and a ceramic assemblage that lacks dentate-stamped Lapita pottery. The later component is significant because it indicates pottery use perhaps 1000 years after pottery is thought to have been abandoned in West Polynesia. Compared to other residential sites in the region, hawaiite (basaltic) and volcanic-glass artifacts are unusually abundant. In addition, there is a good record of extensive geomorphological and sea-level changes at 'Aoa Valley, reflecting both natural forces and human behavior.
This paper examines relationships that exist between farm income, land values, and capital asset pricing theory. Using two
commonly referenced data sets, it is shown that land prices and land rents do not have the same time-series representations,
a necessary condition for the simple capital asset pricing theory to hold. This suggests that a fundamental rethinking of
the way in which land prices are viewed and modeled is needed. More complex models that allow for rational bubbles, risk aversion,
and future shifts in government policy or commodity prices may be required.