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Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Foundation Volume 16 Article 3 Issue 2 October

2002 The aM rae Temple Grounds in the , French : A Structural Study of Spatial Relations Paul Wallin The Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway

Reidar Solsvik The Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway

Follow this and additional works at: https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj Part of the History of the Pacific slI ands Commons, and the Pacific slI ands Languages and Societies Commons

Recommended Citation Wallin, Paul and Solsvik, Reidar (2002) "The aM rae Temple Grounds in the Society Islands, : A Structural Study of Spatial Relations," Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation: Vol. 16 : Iss. 2 , Article 3. Available at: https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/3

This Research Paper is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Hawai`i Press at Kahualike. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation by an authorized editor of Kahualike. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Wallin and Solsvik: The Temple Grounds in the Society Islands, French Polynesia: HE MARAETEMPLE GR.OUNDS IN TH - 0 I TY I LAND, FR.EN H POLYNESI A TR.U TUR.AL TUDY OF PATIAL R.EL ION

Paul Wallin and Reidar Solsvik The Kon-Tiki Museum, Institute for Pacific Archaeology and Cultural History

n this paper we will present orne of ~ our resent research on ceremonial site , marae, in the Society I land of 1 I , Taha'a French Polynesia. These islands are lo­ Borabora cated in the central East Polynesia Ocean, • ~ ~ and are divided into the Windward and Tetiaroa 'J the Leeward Islands (Figure 1). Our paper considers the structural organization of Leeward Islands Windward Islands habitation and ceremonial ites in the So­ Mo'orea ciety Islands (cf. Kirch 1996; Ladefoged

1998), as well as relations between marae Mai'ao and the surrounding landscape (Figures 2, • 50 km Me'etia a and b).

Figure I. Map of the Society Islands showing the Leeward and Windward island group. THE HOUSEHOLD

The ettlement pattern in proto­ hi toric Tahiti is described as dispersed, with the basic unit of habitation being the hou ehold. The household area, including a courtyard, was enclo ed by a fence called aumoa (Turnbull 1813:355-356; Parkin on 1773:23; Handy 1923:34-35; Green et al. 1967:174-175; Ferdon 1981:79). Several houses with di creet function were located within the court­ yard. Generally, the household consi ted of a sleeping house, fare taoto; a cook­ house, fare tutu; garden or horticultural terraces; and a shrine for worshipping the Figure 2a. Leeward Society Islands marae (photo: Wallin 1993). family god. In addition, among chiefs, the hou ehold had a canoe house,jarau va'a, an a embly house, fare apo 'oraa, and a hou e for dance performances, fare heiva (Green et al. 1967:175). Structural comparison between the marae, the fare taoto, the fare heiva and the death-house, fare tupapa 'u, will be undertaken. The general layout of a rnarae is a rectangular area. In the Windward 1 land thi was enclosed by a fence, with the ahu, a rai ed elongated stone structure, as a focal point at one end (Emory 1933, Si­ noto 1996). The area in front of the ahu u ually paved and on the court were Figure 2b. Windward Society Islands marae (photo: Wallin 1993). wooden altars,jata-rau, for food offerings plus upright stones serving as backrests for important people by the gods them elves. The area located midway between the attending ceremonies at the marae. The area in front of the ahu ahu and the opposite end of the court had backre ts for the was only accessible for the priests and, on certain occasion , chief and his wife. The rest of the participants in the ceremony the fIrstborn chief of the tribe. The top of the ahu was occupied were situated at the entrance end of the marae. Commoners and

Rapa Nui Journal 70 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 Published by Kahualike, 2002 1 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 16 [2002], Iss. 2, Art. 3 women had to stay at the back of the marae, the outside, or were excluded from being present at all (Henry 1928:125, 134, 142-143). That the marae wa perceived as the "home-of-the-god" is attested by Teutira Henry's ethnohistorical de crip­ tion on the inauguration of a national marae. As the priest "went up into the marae", or the ahu, and sprinkled water, he invited the titular god to "take posses­ sion of his new home" (Henry 1928: 137) (Figure 3). When the titular god partici­ pated in the ceremonies, it was placed in the avaa-rahi (a platform) directly in front of the ahu (Henry 1928:133), and we might assume that the ahu symbolically Figure 3. Human sacrifice at a marae by John Webber (1776). From Ferdon 1981. represented the house-of-the-god. Thus the whole marae should be seen as the household-of-the-god. In Parkinson's pen-and­ wash drawing (Ferdon 1981:771) of a dwelling complex for a Tahitian chief, we see this same structural pattern (Figure 4). The Tahitian term 'marae' (Davies 1991:133) mean both "the sacred place formerly used for worship ...," a well as "cleared of wood, weed, rubbish, as a gar­ den, or the place of worship." The court­ yard and the inside of the sleeping house, fare taoto, was kept clean and either cov­ ered with grass or, as the courtyard, paved with stones (Banks 1963; Ellis 1830:389; Parkinson 1773:23; cf. also Ferdon 1981:80). The many altars for food offer­ ing located at various places at the Figure 4. Dwelling complex for a Tahitian chief by (1773). From Ferdon 1981. marae, can be compared to the racks for hanging raw food on the courtyard (Ferdon 1981:81-82; cf. also pen-and­ wash drawing by S. Parkinson 1773:77) or inside the cookhouse (Handy 1932:24). Looking at the fare heiva depicted by John Webber (Ferdon 1981:131) from Tahiti in 1776 (Figure 5), one cannot es­ cape the feeling that in very general terms the structure re embles that of a marae. It has a raised building at one end within a fenced enclosure, which may suggest the symbolical similarity to the ahu of the marae with its enclosing walls and court. From the front of the house, extending a bit out on the court there are mats, instead of the paved area in front of the ahu. As in the marae, the ceremony - here the dance - is being conducted on this "paved" area, while the general crowds are outside the parameters of the structure (cf. de Bovis 1980:44, 50-51; Henry 1928:125, 137-138, 166, 170, and 175). Figure 5. Tahitian dance house,fare heiva. By John Webber (1776). From Ferdon 1981. Henry (1928:133) al 0 states that the

Rapa Nui Journal 71 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/3 2 Wallin and Solsvik: The Marae Temple Grounds in the Society Islands, French Polynesia: drums were situated almo t at the center of the marae, near one of the short-end, as the drums in the drawing. The arne structural principles eem to be u ed in the fare tu­ papa'u, or death hou e illustrated by John Webber (Figure 6).

THE MARAE IN THE LANDSCAPE

Natural elements, such as, sea (water), land, and Icy, were central in Polynesian creation myths. Therefore uch elements played a central role in their world-view (Handy 1927:14; Henry 1928:337). The connection of natural elements to the tories of creation gave of cour e meaning to the landscape; meanings that were of impor­ tance when selecting the building place of the marae. The environmental elements important for the location of the marae are the follow­ ing: 1) The sea, including the open ocean, Figure 6. A Tahitian death house, fare tLlpapa'LI, by John Webber 1776. (From Beaglehole 1967). the coral reef ection, and the lagoon; 2) The land, including the beach area, the coa tal plain, and the valley; on the landscape. So one can really ask, what picture may be 3) The sky, including the sun, the moon, and stars, as well as shown through archaeological practice? The diagram (Figure geographical directions. 7) shows the preliminary results of a statistical correspondence The open sea was of cour e important as provider of main analysis based on construction variables defined in Wallin food resources, as well a it had a strong connection to legen­ (1993), with some new landscape-oriented variables added. The dary seafarer and fishermen (Henry 1928:381). The passage in horizontal axis shows landscape, size and type orientation, and the coral reef was also of great importance. This wa the en­ the vertical axis show social aspects. trance to the ea and the (is)land. The calm waters of the la­ The right field represents large stepped marae located on goon, were full of small fish, and acce s to water in general the beach/shore, with an orientation towards the ea/opening of was of great importance in different marae rituals. The location the reef. They were the expre ion of certain individual/high of the marae close to the lagoon side may indicate its relation chiefs as an externally oriented power demonstration. to this natural element. It may also indicate that the marae was The large central field repre ents a mixed group of marae accessible for vi itor from far and near. Such main tructures located on the coa tal plain/ridge and lower valley, where ahu may have been of importance on the external political arena, as generally are oriented toward the interior. The e structures had well a a focal point for visitors. a social/tribal function, u ed in land division and internal power The coastal plain was a very fertile area with intensive struggles. agricultural and plantation activities. If marae were located in The two left fields repre ent medium and small marae this area it might have been associated with such activities. The located up the valley. The ahu (when existing) was oriented coastal plain was the exten ive living area, and the importance towards rivers and hill . They also represented individual pe­ of land ownership was shown and claimed through marae cialized structures with limited functions. structure (Henry 1928:141-142). The coastal plain may be In summary, this tatistical analy is is in line with the eth­ seen as the main internal political arena, in the competition be­ nohi torical de criptions, which in individual ca e points at tween families, lineage and district groups. large coastal-bound tructures tied to powerful individuals and Some valleys extended about 10-15 kIn inland. The main mediuml1esser structures on the coastal plain or further inland river, its smaller connecting stream and waterfalls were the tied to the lineage/family group or pecialists. main localization factor for marae tructures inside the val­ leys. This is due to the importance of water in cleaning rituals REFERENCES before and after marae ceremonies (Handy 1927:52). Terraced taro plantations and certain wild resources such asfei (bananas) Banks, J. 1963. The Endeavor Journal ofJoseph Banks. J. C. and ofe (bamboo) might al 0 have been of importance for the Beaglehole, 2 vols. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. location of certain specialized structure . These marae were de Bovis, E. 1980. Tahitian Society before the arrival ofthe probably of interest at the local political arena when it came to Europeans. Translation and Introduction by R. D. Craig. the control over certain resources that were valuable for the 2nd ed. Hawaii: Brigham Young University. people of the valley and connecting coastal plain. Beaglehole, J. C.,ed. 1967. He Journal ofCapt on The de cription above i mainly ba ed on ethnohistorical his Voyage ofDiscovery. Hakluyt Society Serie XVXVI, description of marae structures and their theoretical location Cambridge.

Rapa Nui Journal 72 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 Published by Kahualike, 2002 3 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 16 [2002], Iss. 2, Art. 3

small marae, no ahu and no enclosure PERSONAL Type 1 ltO·1 o ..;1 .. large, stepped marae with few or no uprights, •.• 11 located on beach/shore and frequently on POints, oriented towards the sea 801

o It.l.t small/medium marae located e o o U.2.' upper and lower valley, oriented 2 •••• towards rivers and hills, uprights e in courtyard, some with ahu 11 1 e 11 • •O· e It 1. 1 110 eo• .l.t.• '.1. e 1'.1 LARGE SIZE SMALL SIZE .o, 0 e"" ~------,~----'CLOSETOSEA INTERIOR 11.J 1I.Je • t.' 0 e STEPPED TYPES SIMPLE TYPES 1J I 0 .8 5.1 'IS n,sO • '.1.J lI·~O e 2 J 11 • 16 . 1,12 0 .zO~ 01.11 2.10 ]

"'" ".1.] •.,] e e Orentation ofmarae and Types 11.' • landscape zones, locations and features :...... Ahu construction and size (sq, m) (after Wallin 1993) mediumllarge marae stepped in two steps with o Variables from Wallin 1993 smalVmedium marae, high uprights or Without uprights, located on located on coastal coastal plane, often near valley mouth or at plateau and towards bays along the coast, to some extent oriented the valley mouth, inland oriented inland, uprights on, back and Wln.ASP CA Scattel1lrnm, in front of ahu Marne & Landscape, Wlndwanl Islands, Type 2 and 3 Type.s, run 2.

Figure 7. Correspondence analysis, Windward I lands.

Davie, J. 1991. A Tahitian and English Dictionary with Intro­ Kirch P. V. 1996. Social Space Revisited. Oceanic ductory Remarks on the Polynesian Language and a Short Culture History. Essays in Honour ofRoger Green. J. Grammar ofthe Tahitian Dialect: with an Appendix. David on, G. Irwin, F. Leach, A. Pawley and D. Brown Originally printed in 1851, at the London Missionary Soci­ ed . :257- 274. Journal of Archaeology Spe­ ety's Press, , Tahiti. (1991 edition, Tahiti). cial Publication. Ellis, W. 1830. Polynesian Researches. Vol. 1. London. Ladefoged, T. N. 1998. Spatial Similarities and Change in Ha­ Emory, K. P., 1933: Stone Remains in the Society Islands. waiian Architecture: The Expression of Ritual Offering Honolulu: Bernice P. Bi hop Museum Bulletin 116. and Kapu in Luakini Heiau, Re idential Complexes and Ferdon, E. N. 1981. Early Tahiti as the Explorers Saw it; 1767­ Houses, Asian Perspectives 37:59-73. 1797. Tucson: University of Arizona Pre s. Parkinson, S. 1773. Journal ofa Voyage to the South Seas.... Green, R. C., K. Green, R. A Rappaport, A. Rappaport and J. London: Dilly and Phillips. David on. 1967. Archaeology on the Island of Mo'orea, Sinoto, Y. H. 1996: Mata'ire'a Hill, Huabine: A Unique Prehi ­ French Polyne ia. Anthropological Papers ofthe American toric Settlement and a Hypothetical Sequence of marae Museum ofNatural History 51(2). New York. Development in the Society I lands. Oceanic Culture His­ Handy, E. S. C. 1923. The Native Culture in the Marquesas. tory. Essays in Honour ofRoger Green. J. David on, G. Bulletin 9 / Bayard Dominick Expedition Irwin, F. Leach, A. Pawley and D. Brown, eds: New Zea­ Publication Number 9, Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Mu­ land Journal of Archaeology Special Publication. seum Press. Turnbull, J. 1813. A Voyage around the World in the Years Handy, E. S. C. 1927. Polynesian Religion. Honolulu: Bernice 1800-1804. London: A. Maxwell. P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 34. Wallin, P. 1993. Ceremonial Stone Structures. The Archae­ Handy, E. S. C. 1932. Houses, Boats, and Fishing in the Soci­ ology and Ethnohistory ofthe Marae Complex in the Soci­ ety Islands. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin ety Islands, French Polynesia. Ph.D. Dissertation, Upp ala 90. University. Aun 18. Uppsala. Henry, T. 1928. Ancient Tahiti. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin 48.

Rapa Nui Journal 73 Vol. 16 (2) October 2002 https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol16/iss2/3 4