Open AccessArchery Platforms (Vahi te'a) in the Society Islands, Polynesia A contextual interpretation
Author(s) -
Paul Wallin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
current swedish archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.256
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 2002-3901
pISSN - 1102-7355
DOI - 10.37718/csa.1997.13
Subject(s) - interpretation (philosophy) , context (archaeology) , power (physics) , history , archaeology , geography , anthropology , sociology , linguistics , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
The aim of this paper is to try to reach a better understanding of the meanings of archery platforms and the rituals which took place around the archery competitions in the Society Islands in central Polynesia. A contextual interpretation of the material remains is therefore suggested. The conclusions based on the archaeological and ethnohistorical descriptions show that the development of archery platforms took place within a specific historical context and expresses the Polynesian concepts of mana (power) and tapu (prohibitions).