Prehistoric Socio-Political Structure on Pohnpei: Perspectives from Mortuary Contexts

Abstract

The traditional Pohnpeian socio-political system has been classified as a complex stratified chiefdom (e.g. Ayres 1990; Cordy 1985; Petersen 1992) and was arguably a state for a few hundred years of the island’s prehistory. Oral tradition documents a period when the island was unified by a dynasty based at the site of Nan Madol, followed by a decentralization of power after the dynasty was overthrown (Bernart 1977; Hambruch 1936a; Hanlon 1988a). Archaeological data support the identification of Nan Madol as a major socio-political center in prehistory, but little is known archaeologically about how power was centralized at Nan Madol and the strategies used to maintain the state prior to its overthrow. The primary questions of this thesis surround the mechanisms of social change in Pohnpeian prehistory, particularly the use of coercion and cooperation as a means of developing and/or maintaining a state-level society. Monumental architecture is often associated with the presence of complex stratified societies and states, and is often referenced in discussions of socio-political development (e.g. Joyce 2004; Kirch 2010; Kolb 1994). Monumental constructions on Pohnpei, particularly those at Nan Madol, have been a point of interest to visitors and researchers since the mid-1800s. Surprisingly, with the numbers of drawings and maps produced of these monuments, little detailed analysis of these structures as a unit has been completed. This thesis addresses questions related to the socio-political development of Pohnpei through the analysis of mortuary monuments and structures. Detailed comparisons of architectural features performing similar functions can produce invaluable information relating to social hierarchy and change. Examinations of architectural change over time may indicate major shifts in a society’s developmental trajectory. This thesis examines monumental mortuary structures in order to examine social strategies in the state period and factors which may have played a role in the maintenance and dissolution the centralized socio-political system. These structures were constructed across the island, including at Nan Madol. The inclusion of burial platforms with the lolong in this analysis will allow for an examination of hierarchical relations between burial types, and identification of potential indicators of socio-political change. This thesis examines architectural styles, scale of architecture, permanent features associated with each structure, and labor invested into the construction process. The analyses of this data will provide information on relative status of architectural features, the management required to construct these structures, differences between sites, and change over time. The results will then be used to discuss the probability of the use of coercive labor mobilization strategies in building construction, and the wider social implications of the use of coercion in architectural projects. This study will examine the incidence of coercive labor mobilization in contrast to cooperative projects as a means of examining the use of coercion and cooperation in prehistoric socio-political dynamics and state politics on Pohnpei. Finally, the results of this thesis will be discussed in relation the application of cooperative and coercive theories of socio-political development in instances where there is little to no archaeological evidence of interpersonal conflict and warfare. Show more