Book Reviews

BOOK REVIEWS

Sacred Rocks and Buddhist Caves in Thailand. Christophe Munier. Bangkok: White Lotus, 1998. xii + 266 pp.; illustrations (some in color); maps. Hardcover.

Reviewed by RASMI SHOOCONGDEJ, Silpakorn University

It is always a pleasure to read a com It also outlines the concept of sacred rocks prehensive book about Thailand. In Sacred and Buddhist caves found in Asia and Rocks and Buddhist Caves in Thailand, French raises several issues. Munier reviews the evi scholar Christophe Munier makes a won dence of sacred and worshipped rocks and derful effort to integrate archaeological data Buddhist caves that have been discovered with his knowledge of Thai Buddhist cul throughout Asia-from Sri Lanka, Burma, ture and his experiences traveling in Thai Cambodia, Thailand, India, China, Viet land between 1985 and 1994. Nam, and Malaysia-by comparing the sim The focus of this volume is a study of the ilarities and differences of the symbolic symbolic value of rocks and caves within meanings and the worship practices. Here, historical, cultural, and religious contexts. the subheadings are not well structured and The volume is illustrated with 300 plates, it would have been helpful to have a brief maps, and diagrams. Information on other explanation about the organization of this Asian countries is also included, providing section before launching into the history of useful information for both the interested Thailand right away. reader and the tourist. In the section that focuses on sacred Munier defines "sacred" rocks as those rocks in Thailand, Munier hypothesizes that are widely worshipped by the Thai, that the sacred rocks are linked to the Bud not exclusively from the Buddhist context, dha as a person and everyday utilitarian and he covers myths, animism, and other objects in the Buddha's life, as well as spe religious beliefs. "Buddhist caves" refers to cial Buddhist events. He classifies these into caves with cosmogonic elements of the ten parts: the introduction of Buddhism at Buddhist landscape that are not commonly the end of prehistory, rock umbrellas and found in the present-day context. canopies, the Buddha's shadows, the Bud The volume is divided into three parts: a dha's footprints, the Buddha's alms bowl, general introduction, followed by separate the Buddha's throne and bed, the divine sections devoted to sacred rocks and to balance, animals, a rock offered by the Buddhist caves in Thailand. Each section angels, and phallic rocks. The materials pre contains pictures, maps, and plans of sites, sented cover a wide time frame, from pre which provide the relevant supporting evi history to the present day. However, this dence for the temporal and spatial informa section seems to focus largely on the Dva tion mentioned in the text. ravati culture (the earliest Buddhist state The introduction gives a brief survey of founded in northeastern Thailand, c. A.D. historical development in Thailand prior to 6) and the Phu Phra Bat site, a Buddhist the Sukhothai period (Sukhothai is the first shelter in Udonthani Province in particular. kingdom of the "Thai" people) through Munier also mentions the sites in northern, the Chakri dynasty of the Bangkok period. southern, western, and eastern Thailand

Asia1l Perspectives, Vol. 40, No.2 © 2002 by Univeniity of Hawai'i Press. 306 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES 40 (2) . FALL 2001 according to the above classification. At the worshiping sacred rocks and Buddhist caves end of each part, he provides a map and between Mahayana and Theravada Bud guide to the sites. dhism? The section on Thai Buddhist caves that Another problem is the structure of the follows is divided into five parts, including book. Although this volume attempts to an introduction to Thai Buddhist caves, provide an overview for readers unfamiliar caves used as ritual and religious places with Thailand and Buddhism, the book it from prehistoric time to the present, high self is not well structured and may lead to and low reliefs, painted caves, and text and confusion for some readers. h is difficult signatures. Under each of these topics, a to follow through to the end, due to the brief summary of the most interesting caves arrangement of parts in a discontinuous se around Thailand and guides on how to get quence. As a result, each part fails to deliver there are given. At this point, Munier in coherent and integrative content. Chapter cludes some material that does not entirely summaries of each part would have been relate to the concept of the Buddhist cave; useful. Although Munier provides great de for example, he includes the historical tail of historical information in each part, records (text and signatures) of King Rama he does not manage to smoothly link this V of the Chakri dynasty's visit to one cave. data with the concepts of sacred rocks and It seems that most of the descriptive infor the Buddhist caves that he sets out in the mation and interpretations contained in this general introduction. part are a summary of archaeological data While I commend Munier's efforts in on prehistoric rock paintings and historical reViewing numerous documents and ar caves that has been researched by Thai chaeological data, I also feel a bit uneasy archaeologists from the Royal Thai Fine with the author's interpretation of archae Arts Department over a number ofdecades. ological evidence. For instance, on pages 5 Unfortunately, apart from acknowledging and 6, he writes that the "Mon" people (an Srisuchat, Munier does not give any credit ethnic group in Thailand who speak an to the Fine Arts Department's work in his Austro-Asiatic language) were a population notes to sections 12-17 on pages 49-251. of the Dvaravati culture. This is a continu He does, however, include their studies in ing source of debate among scholars, and the bibliography. archaeologists still haven't come to an The strength of this book is the rich in agreement about the definite racial group formation about the sacred rocks and Bud of the Dvaravati culture. In this case, it dhist cave sites in Thailand. Muntier suc would have been better if Munier had pre cessfully brings together a large amount of sented the different hypotheses on this is data and a variety of interpretations in an sue, as he did on the issue of the origin of accessible way that may be particularly use Thai people on page 244. ful as an informative introductory guide for It should be noted that in such a book, people unfamiliar with the literature on this which deals with a range of topics and topic. covers a long period of time, it is easy for However, this book has certain weak the nonarchaeologist to misinterpret the nesses that could be improved in further archaeological records or to use the mate editions. I am disappointed that Munier rial without understanding the status of arts does not examine and explain the change in the fteld of archaeology. Munier is not or the continuity of sacred rocks or Bud alone in this regard. dhist caves through time. For instance, what Another minor observation is that the was the nature of worship in each period? rationale for selecting particular case studies When and how were animist and super is not always clear, and some examples natural beliefs harmoniously integrated with given do not accurately represent all the Buddhism? What are the similarities or dif topics and regions. Because of marketing, ferences of sacred rocks and Buddhist caves Munier also incorporates information that among the various regions of Thailand? Are does not relate to the concept of sacred there any differences in the practices of rocks and Buddhist caves at all. For in- BOOK REVIEWS stance, he includes information on sites that tant data are missing. For example, on page are curiosities of nature, such as Ko Tapu 235 in "Other Caves," information on the in Pangnga, southern Thailand, or famous, important features found in the caves and such as the rock filmed in the James Bond how to get there are omitted. I strongly feel movie. Personally, I feel this tends to dis that this part of the book is unnecessary. count the value of the book. Overall, there are several good sections Although the author intended to provide and it contains a wealth of information. more information on the sites to meet the The photographs are well printed on good needs ofthe tourist, some information seems quality paper. It is a worthy addition to any to be quite irrelevant while more impor- collection about Thailand.

Bugis Navigation. Gene Ammarell. Yale Southeast Asia Studies, Monograph 48. New Haven, Connecticut, 1999.

Reviewed by BEN FINNEY, University ofHawai 'i, Miinoa

Those of us who have worked on issues of ships, these traders range over the Flores indigenous sailing and navigation in the and Banda seas, calling on ports in South Pacific Islands have long wondered to what Sulawesi, Maluku (the Moluccas), and Nusa extent Indonesian sailors still practice old Tenggara (the Lesser Sundas). Their wood ways of navigating and sailing, and how en, locally built vessels carry a wide variety these might relate to methods once em of goods, ranging from' timber, nails, bricks, ployed throughout the open Pacific. We and other construction materials to copra, had read the journalistic accounts of sailing cashew nuts, coffee, rice, flour, shallots, on romantic looking part-Malay and part fruits, and other products. To learn their European .craft, and poured over the few navigation system the author apprenticed papers that seemed to indicate that despite himself to master navigators, and sailed the presence of magnetic compasses on with ·them at various times of the year to board these vessels, their navigators still paid learn firsthand about wind and weather con attention to the stars, swells, and currents. ditions and navigational challenges through Now with Gene Ammarell's fine book we out the entire monsoon cycle. at last have a detailed study of Bugis navi The craft employed by the Balobaloang gation, one that fills an immense gap in are hybrid in design and to some extent, in Southeast Asian ethnography and also offers materials, and are equipped with auxiliary comparative data and insights valuable for engines and compasses. Nonetheless. these analyzing the much more fragmentary data wooden vessels are a far cry from the con on navigation in ancient Polynesia. tainer behemoths that now dominate world In 1991-1992 Ammarell spent 17 trade. Although the traders may use their months with the Bugis people of South engines to power through calms and in and Sulawesi, famed traders who for the last out of harbors, many cannot afford to run several centuries have ranged over the seas them all the time. And, above all, they still that join the many islands of what is now sail according to the alternation of the Indonesia. He focused on a trading com monsoon winds. During the steady easterly munity of 145 households based on the monsoon winds from March through Sep atoll community of Balobaloang located tember and extending into the calmer in the Flores Sea some 120 nautical miles months of October through December, south-southwest of the port of Ujang most of the able-bodied men are at sea on Padang (formerly Makasar). Sailing in ves the island's trading vessels. During the sels that range from the Indonesian equiva January-February height of the rainy and lents of small sloops to medium-sized tall often stormy west monsoon. all but the

AJinll Pcrsprctivt5, Vol. 40. No.2 © 2002 by University ofHaw3i'j Press. 308 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES 40 (2) . FALL 2001 largest ships stay in port. Similarly, al ommend his diagrams (p. 129) of how though some younger sailors can only sail Bugis and Western navigators group the by a magnetic compass, most older sailors same stars into completely different aster can still use the stars, wind. and other cues isms as clear examples of the cultural con from their environment to set courses and struction of navigational astronomy. For steer. And, like sailors elsewhere, at night example, where Westerners see the South the Bugis still mostly steer by the stars, ern Cross (Crux), the pointer stars (Alpha rather than slavishly trying to follow the and Beta Centauri), and the adjacent coal gyrations of a compass needle. sack. Bugis see window-before-marriage, At the heart of this book are two chap incomplete house stars, and the goat. ters on navigation. The first is devoted to When Ammarell was conducting his offshore navigation in which conceptual study during the early 1990s Indonesia had compasses, one denoted by wind directions enjoyed a long run of stability and eco and the other by the rising and setting nomic growth, during which time engines points of stars, are employed along with and compasses (as well as cordage and sails the magnetic compass. The second chapter made from synthetic materials and other focuses on piloting, that is guiding a ship innovations) had been introduced or be through reference landmarks, depth sound came more widespread. This made Ammar ings, tidal patterns, coastal currents, and ell wonder whether the apparent erosion of other land-related phenomena. The wealth indigenous ways of navigating and other of material presented in these two chapters traditional practices might eventually lead is much too rich to summarize here. Let to their effective disappearance. However, me just say that it is one of the best inte now I wonder if the recent economic and grated presentations of indigenous naviga political turmoil may have forced some re tion I have read, and one that suggests a treat from the rapid pace of change over continuity ofAustronesian practices extend the last thirty years. and a consequently ing at least from Indonesian waters through greater reliance of sail over engine power to the far reaches of Remote Oceania. In and of navigating by the winds, stars. and particular I appreciate Ammarell's analysis other traditional means over relying heavily of how the Bugis employ their wind com on magnetic compasses. Still, I also cannot pass, along with bearings derived from the help but speculate if, despite the current rising and setting points of stars and obser turmoil, increasingly cheaper CPS receivers vations of the sun, moon, ocean swells, and may one day prove to be the one piece birds as a system. These same elements were of exogenous navigation technology that employed in Polynesia, but we do not have most seriously challenges the old ways. Or a similarly complete analysis of exactly how will these resourceful sailors continue to they fit together as a coherent whole. For organize directions by the winds and steer those readers who can't or don't want to by the stars, all the while using these handy follow the author's detailed analysis. I rec- new devices to pinpoint their position?

National Treasure. Peter Bleed. Littleton. Colorado: RKLOG Press, 2000. ISBN 0-9675798-1-3. Paperback. Price unknown. Spirit Bird Journey. Sarah Milledge Nelson. Littleton, Colorado: RKLOG Press, 1999. ISBN 0-9675798-0-5. Paper back. Price unknown.

Reviewed by BRIAN FAGAN, University oj California, Santa Barbara

Jean Auel, Glyn Daniel, and James Mich ble flood of novels with archaeological ener started the trend. Since then, a verita- themes have arrived in the marketplace.

everything from detective stories to out manistic ceremony takes her to the remote and-out thrillers. A handful of archaeologists past, which she enters as a bird. A child have themselves tried writing novels, both of the Golden clan is born just as Clara as a creative alternative to the serious busi appears and is named Flyingbird from ness of reporting on their research, and this event. Clara as a golden bird becomes sometimes because they want to explore the spirit protector of Golden Flyingbird. topics that are beyond the relatively limited Flyingbird was born to become the leader reach of archaeological data. The two of the Golden Clan in Bird Mountain Vil novels reviewed here are the work of pro lage, but she must find six amulets and fessional archaeologists working in Japan learn the songs and rituals associated with and Korea, whose own experiences add them to earn the approval of the spirits. color and authenticity to the narratives. She raises a bear club destined for sacrifice, Peter Bleed teaches at the University of makes a household with two husbands, has Nebraska and is a respected authority not four children, and becomes the village lead only on Japan's archaeology, but on Japa er. Clara has the opportunity to visit many nese swords as well. National Treasure begins of the places to which Flyingbird journeyed in A.D. 1340, when a retainer of the Em in the past. Nelson floats Clara effortlessly peror Go-Tembo dedicates a sword made between the worlds of ancient and modern by master swordsmith Munemasa to a shrine Korea, as only someone with a firsthand fa at Takasaka. Nearly eight centuries later, miliarity with its archaeology can do. And, a Midwestern dentist who collects pistols in the end, the heroine unearths the burial attends the Des Moines Gun Show, where of a village leader, perhaps Flyingbird her he buys the same sword from the widow of self. The author reveals a thorough knowl a World War II veteran. Meanwhile, back edge of recent scholarship on ethnic and in Japan, a Japanese businessman and the gender issues and offers a pragmatic view of leader of an underworld syndicate join archaeologists at work in Korea today. A forces in an attempt to locate the missing useful note at the end reveals some of her sword, which was designated a "National sources and inspirations. This is an at times treasure" in the 1930s. The plot twists and lyrical novel, which both entertains and turns, with the inevitable happy ending informs without being self-indulgent. At when the sword returns to the National the same time, the reader learns some of Museum in Japan. The main fascination of the thought processes that lie behind the . the story lies in the intricacies of swords interpretation of the Korean archaeological and swordmaking, and in the author's ex record. The fiction milieu allows a work pert knowledge of the dealmaking world ing archaeologist to wander far beyond the of gun and sword dealers. But the Ameri narrow confines of archaeological data. can characters have little dimension and RKLOG Press has published these two their Japanese protagonists are only a little novels in an "Antiquity Alive" series, pre more sophisticated. The plot engages, but sumably an opportunity for archaeologists the book never becomes much more than a to stretch their literary wings into new pleasant page turner. genres. These two first novels lead one to Korean specialist Sarah Nelson's Spirit hope that more tantalizing offerings lie Bird Journey follows Clara, an American ahead. Both authors have allowed their ex student of Korean birth, who journeys to pertise to flower in new directions, which Korea to study archaeology and get away must have been a satisfying experience. from her boyfriend's parents. She excavates The result for the reader is uneven at times, at the site of Bird Mountain Village. A sha- but nevertheless enjoyable. 310 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES . 40 (2) . FALL 2001

The Archaeometallurgy of the Asian Old World. Vincent C. Piggott, ed. University Museum Publications, Philadelphia PA, 1999. vi + 210 pp.; 39 figs. ISBN 0-924171-34-0, ISSN 1048-5325. $42.00 Cloth.

Reviewed by PETER NORTHOVER, Oxford University This compilation is based on the proceed relevance throughout the Asian Old World. ings of "The 4th USA-USSR Archaeological With a background in physical metallurgy, Exchange Symposium: The Development my main concern is how the authors ex of Ancient Metallurgy in the Old World," plore how the knowledge and exploitation held in Tbilisi and Signakhi, Republic of of metal properties developed; issues of Georgia, 27 September-8 October 1988. It provenance and trade in this region, al has had a long gestation, as described by though important, are still hemmed in by the editor in his introductory comments. limited analytical and archaeological data. It finally contains six papers on archaeo How are the metallurgical data mar metallurgy presented by U.S. participants, shalled in support of the arguments? One together with an invited paper on copper can almost say that the data are not pre based metallurgy in South Asia, and an En sented. A volume like this is not the place glish translation of a Russian summary of to tabulate large bodies of analytical data the proceedings included as an appendix. (although the copper and iron alloy analy The majority of the final manuscripts was ses in the two papers on South Asia are received in 1996 with some updating to certainly not out of place). However, include references up to 1998. Final publi graphical summaries ofavailable data would cation was in 1999. have made several arguments more com Given this lengthy evolution, any review prehensible. One example is the reference must address the question of whether the by Stech to the Mesopotamian Metals final volume justifies its publication. To Project in "Aspects of early metallurgy in some extent more recent published re Mesopotamia and Anatolia" (pp. 59-72). search has superseded it, but it does make These data have been long awaited but the accessible material that might not be readily only glimpse allowed here is a tabulation of available. For example, papers by ]. N. the number of objects analyzed and the Kemoyer and H.M.-L. Miller on "Metal number found to be bronze. Graphics of technologies in the Indus Valley tradition tin and arsenic contents would not have in Pakistan and western India" (pp. 107 compromised the full publication of this 152) and G. L. Possehl and P. Gullapalli on material and would have avoided the need "The Early Iron Age in South Asia" (pp. for the rather dubious numerical definition 153-176) ably summarize material not eas of bronze used in constructing the table. ily available. This is also true of the editor's This applies to all of the discussions of paper on "The development of metal pro copper-based metallurgy in the volume. In duction on the Iranian Plateau: An archaeo the same context, Piggott in his introduc metallurgical perspective" (pp. 73-106) but tion notes that in the third millennium B.C. this is in part duplicated elsewhere in the weapons and edged tools are generally not author's own writings. made of bronze although "these are the The reviewer must also consider the artifacts that would function most effec presentation of the data and the quality of tively from being made of a copper alloy the discussion presented. There is no space with a tin content close to 10% that for detailed criticism of each paper and any could then be work hardened to produce a such review would be uneven depending metal with useful mechanical properties" on the knowledge and experience of the (p. 5). This illustrates the assumptions made reviewer. Consequently the review will throughout the copper alloy discussions center on how the individual papers address that actually hinder debate on how alloying archaeometallurgical questions of general developed. Sadly, insufficient objects are

Asian Perspectives, Vol. 40, No.2 © 2002 by University of Haw;\j'j Press. BOOK REVIEWS 3II studied metallographically to determine doctrine and untested assumptions, which how the metal in them was actually used this paper does a great deal to clear away. there are no micrographs anywhere in this Where next, though, as she points out, volume, a regretable omission. For the pur because of the limitations of the data so far poses in which bronze was used in the an collected. Again, the argument has a met cient world, a wide range of tin contents, allurgical component and it is clear that from 5 percent to 15 percent, would suf past contributors to the debate have not fice, and was used satisfactorily. Equally, clearly understood the properties of iron existing copper compositions were com and bronze and how they might compare. petitive, with a Cu-2 percent arsenic com Possehl and Gullapalli's work on the Iron position providing blade edges as hard as Age in South India also offers a construc the bronzes that replaced them in a metal tive survey of the region's earliest iron to that was easier to forge. Even the iron im gether with a radiocarbon chronology. For purity found in many ancient Near Eastern many readers, this will be new information. coppers could make a significant contribu Finally, Bronson's "The transition to iron tion to mechanical properties. This knowl in ancient China" is the least modified from edge has been available to metallurgists the presentation made in 1988 with no since the 1920s. new references; a footnote refers to D. B. This re"1iance on a numerical definition Wagner's Iron and Steel in Ancient China of the act of alloying is part of a rather old (E. J. Brill, Leiden, 1993). This book, and fashioned approach to ancient metallurgy. more recent research in China supersede This is exemplified by Muhly's contribu this paper. As a summary for the interested tion on "Copper and bronze in the eastern nonspecialist, it has a place, but without Mediterranean," and to a lesser extent any refer.ence to the last 12 years' research, Stech's paper, although Muhly recognizes it has no wider impact. more than others the place of recycling. The appendix translating a Russian sum The papers read like lists of copper alloy mary of the original conference shows what objects containing tin, which, without maps might have been if it had been possible to or graphics, is extremely unhelpful to the assemble a full set of papers. For this re reader not already informed about the ma viewer a variety of papers on the Caucasus terial. The papers on Iran and on South and on Central Asia are sadly missed. These Asia suffer from similar definitions of alloy are areas of which we know little, but ing but are more useful in their discussion which had a large impact on metallurgical of chronology and of the contexts in which history. As to whether the remaining papers metalworking was undertaken. make a worthwhile whole, this reviewer Copper is balanced by three papers on must express his doubts. Certainly there are iron. Waldbaum's "The coming of iron good things, although possibly not enough. in the eastern Mediterranean" (pp. 27-58) However, the volume, with the exception updates her previous reviews of the subject mentioned in the previous paragraph, does with refreshing clarity and critical acuity. fulfil one of the functions expected of such The introduction and development of iron productions, and that is the quality of the in the ancient world is a subject laden with bibliography attached to each paper.

God-Apes and Fossil Men. Paleoanthropology in South Asia. Kenneth A. R. Kennedy. Ann Arbor: University ofMichigan Press, 2000. 480 pp.; figures, maps, references, indices.

Reviewed by Lynne A. SCHEPARTZ, University of Cincinnati

Every paleoanthropologist worth their ten archaeological and fossil records for Africa, ured position knows the intricacies of the Europe, Southwest Asia, and China. Yet

Asian Perspectives, Vol. 40. No, 2 © 2002 by Universiry o( Hawai'j Press. 312 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES 40 (2) . FALL 2001 how many have more than a passing famil discussion of their complex and fluid tax iarity with South Asia? With the publica onomy and explains how they weathered tion ofthis work, they can no longer excuse the changes in hominid origins research. their ignorance. Only three illustrations are provided, and In the preface to this impressive ency one of these (Fig. 22) needs an anatomi clopedic work, Kennedy writes that he is cally descriptive caption. More photographs examining the established hypotheses re would have enhanced this chapter. garding Asian prehistory and population The remaining portions of the book de history. Most notably, these are the view tail the human occupation of the region. that Asia is the cradle of humanity (espe Geological, archaeological, and faunal in cially topical now as Chinese researchers formation is given first, followed by sepa reassert claims for the earliest Asian homi rate chapters on the human remains, for the nid sites); the assignment of different stone earlier time periods. This arrangement has tool technologies to specific "races" with some minor disadvantages because the pro ties to living populations; the idea that venience and burial context are either re the origins of the Bronze Age Harappans peated or given separately from the mor can be traced to Mesopotamia and the Fer phological descriptions. tile Crescent; and the notion that a sweep The discussion of the earliest South ing movement of Indo-European-speaking Asian sites (Chapters 6-8) highlights how Aryans coincided with, and probably caused, little we know from this vast area bridging the decline of Harappan civilization. Un Africa, Europe, and eastern Asia! While the derlying all of these ideas is the view that Potwar Plateau is yielding evidence for cultural advances and events in South Asia some of the earliest stone tool traditions ultimately had their roots elsewhere-and outside Africa, only the Narmada calvaria primarily to the west. South Asia was merely emerges as a well-documented premodern the cauldron where diverse peoples and tra fossil find. The possibility of the earliest ditions met, clashed, and mingled. anatomically modern South Asian Homo Kennedy is one of the leading palaeoan sapiens coming from sites on Sri Lanka (c. thropologist/skeletal biologists working in 25-35,000 B.P.) is intriguing but difficult to South Asia today, with a research record evaluate without photographs and a more spanning almost 40 years. With expertise critical examination of the dates and the ranging from the early pongids to modern contexts of the discoveries. populations, he is eminently qualified to The archaeological and human skeletal synthesize the palaeoanthropology of the records expand exponentially for the later region. The book is strongest where he time periods, and the richness of South steps back from the factual coverage and Asian adaptations is apparent. Chapters 9 provides his own views on the issues. This 11 cover the Holocene hunter-gatherer is especially true in the latter sections deal evidence, and Chapters 12 and 13 describe ing with food-producing populations and early farmers and pastoralists. Kennedy the Aryan question. rightly highlights the diversity of synchro God-Apes and Fossil Men's organization nous developments across the subconti is straightforward and largely chronological. nent, in contrast to earlier accounts that Chapter 1 provides a useful geographical .emphasized the role ofmigration and broad introduction. Chapters 2-4 examine the ranging cultural systems. His thorough ex development of prehistoric, evolutionary, amination of the biological and archaeo and biological studies in Europe and how logical records reveals little evidence of those frameworks were i~posed on South population replacement, warfare, or aggres Asia. While an understanding of these in sion. Instead, we are provided a picture of teractions is important, this portion of the populations who adapted a wide range of book could have been shorter and better technological and economic components integrated. Chapter 5 covers the god-apes to meet the demands of their localized ofthe title: the Rama-, Siva-, Brahma-, and environments. Hence simple concepts like other -pithecines. Kennedy provides a clear 'Mesolithic,' 'Neolithic,' and 'Iron Age' are BOOK REVIEWS 313 shown to be inadequate when describing (Cavalli-Sforza)? Kennedy fmds little or no South Asia. support for these arguments in the skeletal The heterogeneous Harappans are pre and dental evidence. sented in Chapters 14-15. Skeletal and In sum, God-Apes and Fossil Men has an dental analyses confirm their biological ori incredibly broad scope covering geography, gins in the earlier populations of the north geology, ecology, prehistory, protohistory, western portion of the subcontinent and primate and human palaeontology, skeletal their continuity with later peoples, includ biology, human variation, genetics, and lin ing the 'problematic' post-Harappan ceme guistics. The details are all there, as are tery H. No major role for population re the basics and the history behind the dis placement or migration from Southwest coveries. The book is not intended for a Asia is substantiated. Accordingly, the general audience as it contains much spe role of Aryan marauders as destroyers of cialized terminology. ReaderS, depending Harappan civilization is firmly discounted on their backgrounds, may find that they and relegated to the realm of myth. The need to look up certain geological (often diversity of the megalith builders, and their local South Asian) or osteological terms. It lack of direct links with particular historic is relatively free of errors for a work of its and extant 'tribal' groups, is the subject of length. One notable exception is that Jer Chapter 16. icho is mistakenly located in Jordan (the Questions of race, ethnicity, and linguis Palestinian Authority, Palestine, or the West tic identity are given serious attention by Bank are proper terms for its location). South Asian researchers. Are the roots of Kennedy has put his heart, soul, and today's socially stratified cultures to be years of experience into this work, and all found in the past (Chapter 17)? Can Indo those with interests in the development of European roots in South Asia be traced as South Asian technologies and cultures are proposed by archaeologists (such as the All indebted to him for writing it. There is chins and Renfrew) or genetic researchers much to learn.

Tiempon I Manmojo Ina: Ancient Chamorro Culture and History ojthe Northern Mariana Islands. Scott Russell. Micronesian Archaeological Survey Report No. 32. Divi sion of Historic Preservation, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 1998. x + 390 pp., 180 figures, 11 tables, table of contents, references. ISBN 1-878453-30-0.

Reviewed by J. STEPHEN ATHENS, International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., Honolulu, HI

As suggested by its title, this nicely pro ally refers to Guam, the largest of the Mari duced book presents a compilation of ana Islands, it is hard to understand why knowledge concerning the prehistory and this island was not more directly repre early contact history of the indigenous sented in the book. Nevertheless, such a inhabitants of the Northern Mariana Is comprehensive treatment of ancient Cha lands, a region including all of the islands morro culture, as the indigenous people are of the archipelago except Guam (the polit called, is long overdue given advances in ical designation for this area is the Com archaeological and historical knowledge monwealth of the Northern Mariana Is since Alexander Spoehr's extensive work in lands, or CNMI). Given the nature of the the 1950s. Although written with primarily subject and the fact that the book continu- a popular readership in mind, the engaging

Asiall Perspectives. Vol. 40, No.2 © 2002 by Universiry of Hawai'j Press. 3 1 4 ASIAN PERSPECTIVES 40 (2) . FALL 2001 and clear writing style of Russell and his the book (especially Chapter IV, which ability to integrate the subjects ofprehistory concerns the historical period). and history so well will make this book a Chapters II and III constitute the heart useful resource for the professional archae of the book, discussing archaeological ologist and historian. Extensive notes fol findings and the chronological sequence lowing each chapter add to its academic (Chapter II), and also an ethnography of value, along with its bibliography. One of Chamorro culture as reconstructed from the nice features of the book is that in sub archaeology and ethnohistory (Chapter III). tle ways it does much to provide the public Russell's discussion of the Austronesian with an appreciation of the contribution of origins of Chamorro culture is particularly the CNMI and Guam historic preservation useful in that it helps us to understand programs to the expansion of our knowl the background to the colonizing of the edge about Marianas prehistory since the Mariana Islands and some of the basic time of Alexander Spoehr, and later, Fred characteristics of Chamorro culture (lan Reinman, who worked in Guam during guage, subsistence, pottery), besides sug the mid-1960s. Perhaps because it is pri gesting a possible origin for the earliest marily oriented toward the nonprofessional, settlers (island Southeast Asia, possibly the Russell did not stint on figures; the book Philippines). is profusely illustrated with photographs, Russell also does a good job indicating maps, and drawings, many of which are the interpretive difficulties faced by archae from historical sources. This greatly adds ologists, and conveying to the reader that to our appreciation and understanding of there are still a number of uncertainties Chamorro culture, besides giving us a "feel" regarding our understanding of the past. for what the archaeology is like. Perhaps the main example of this concerns Following a Forward by historian Francis how to understand the signature symbol of Hezel, who introduces the volume, a Pref Chamorro culture, the parallel latte stone ace by the author that briefly recounts uprights with capstones. With some justifi his introduction to Chamorro history and cation from the historical literature, they prehistory besides presenting an explana are often considered to be pillars on which tion of the book's organization along elevated houses were constructed. Although with acknowledgments to those who have it is probably likely, as Michael Graves has helped, the Introduction succinctly orients suggested, that the latte houses were markers the reader both geographically and envir of social rank since there is a clear pattern onmentally. This sets the stage for Chapter in size and height of these structures, it is I, which recounts the main characters apparent that all Chamorro could not have historic and modern-who have provided lived in houses on top of latte as there are us with so much information about Cha far too few of them. However, archaeology morro culture. In doing so, Russell is also has thus far been largely silent on the pos given a chance to briefly introduce the sible existence of other habitation struc main outlines of Chamorro culture history tures. An alternative view of latte, first put to his readers. It is a clever way to humanize forth by Rosalind Hunter-Anderson, is that what in less capable hands often becomes a they may have served as highly visible dry and dull presentation of facts. We also symbols on the landscape to legitimize cor gain an appreciation right from the start porate land claims (i.e., territorial markers) of the main problems of Chamorro culture of lineages. The usual presence of many history and the difficulties faced by the burials around these sites may be related to various explorers, religious people, adven just such a function. The notion that latte turers, civil servants, historians, and archae size and height differences may symbolize ologists who have sought to provide infor lineage rank could also be incorporated mation. Russell is careful that the reader into such a model, or that their original understands the historical and social con construction was, in fact, for houses of text of those offering observations and in ranked individuals, but that through time formation, something he does throughout these locations were preserved and held BOOK REVIEWS 315 sacred by lineages as political-territorial Spanish arms were obviously a decisive fac symbols. tor as well. Chapter IV is an immensely interesting Only a few minor errors mar an other account of the initial period of Western wise stellar presentation. Pacific archae contact with Chamorro society, beginning ologists will wince upon reading that Lapita with Magellan's discovery of the Mariana culture originated in Melanesia at 2000 B.C. Islands on 6 March 1521 and his subse (the accepted date is about 1500 B.C.). Not quent brief but unpleasant stop in Guam as bad, but still probably disturbing to some for a few days. As Russell notes, the Cha archaeologists will be Russell's reference to morro perspective of this first encounter, archaeological evidence for initial settle now lost to history, would undoubtedly be ment of the Mariana Islands around 1800 quite different from that presented by the B.C., rather than the commonly accepted Spanish. Despite the brief yearly Spanish and better supported date of 1500 B.C. galleon visits to the Mariana Islands to re (though palaeoenvironmental evidence, not plenish water and food supplies on their available when Russell was writing, now passage between Acapulco and Manila, suggests initial colonization around 2350 there was apparently very little change in 2550 B.C., or 4300 to 4500 cal. B.P.). Rus Chamorro society until 1668, which was sell also mistakenly refers to the Spanish when Father Diego Luis de Sanvitores word, alahas, as a Chamorro word for began his zealous missionizing efforts in jewelry (spelled alhajas in Spanish), which Guam, aided by Spanish colonial authority perhaps nicely illustrates the not unsurpris and policies of subjugation. Although tra ing pervasiveness of Spanish in modern ditional Chamorro culture lingered on for a Chamorro language. Finally, most archae few more decades and there were episodes ologists will immediately note that the bi of strong and sometimes relatively pro valve called a tellin in an illustration actu tracted resistance, 1668 was clearly the be ally pertains to the Anadara genus. These ginning of what proved to be an avowed are minor distractions, however, for a book Spanish determination to destroy Chamorro that should be on every Micronesianists culture. As Russell points out, the mission shelf, and seriously considered by those policy of reduccion (resettlement into mis otherwise generally interested in Pacific sion villages) was a blow from which Cha history and prehistory. morro culture could not recover, though

Exalted Sits the Chief: The Ancient History ofHawai Ii Island. Ross Cordy. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 2000.

Reviewed by KEHA UNANI CACHOLA-ABAD, 'Ewa Beach, Hawai Ii

In Exalted Sits the Chief, Cordy strives "to Cordy's opening chapter on c. 1795 form an overview of the history of Hawai'i Hawai'i Island geography is a useful refer Island prior to its unification by Kameha ence including particulars expected in more meha in 1792" by "blending archaeology, specific regional studies. Excellent maps oral history, and history" (pp. vii, 2). Cordy play strong supporting roles here and uses these domains in an additive, descrip throughout the book. tive fashion but does not analyze them co Chapter 2, which describes Hawaiian so hesively to produce new landmark inter ciety during Kamehameha's rule, balances pretations. generalizations of the society with the

diversity of Hawai'i Island's geopolitical remains unclear, thus limiting Cordy's abil regions. Cordy skillfully employs historical ity to infer relationships among variables in and archaeological records to substantiate the oral traditions and the archaeological many of his depictions. However, missing record. among the representations are insights In some respects such constraints proved revealing the core traits underlying Hawai irrelevant to Cordy in his largest set of ian society, exemplified by Cordy's cursory chapters, wherein he describes Hawai'i discussion of the relationship between Island's history using the temporal flow in Hawaiians and their deities-a crucial topic the oral traditions, for here he unfortunately for understanding Hawaiian chiefly life. presents the archaeological record and oral Also begging greater consideration are de traditions as largely separate realms. Cordy batable stances Cordy adopts. He skirts summarizes the oral traditions, weaving Stannard's (1989) 800,000-1,000,000 1778 in segments describing archaeological sites archipelago population estimate and, with that are organized geographically (e.g., we out explanation, uses 300,000 (p. 49). Cordy learn of the archaeology of Waipi'o in the also casts doubt on whether labor special section on Uloa, of Honaunau in the por ization generally occurred outside "a high tion involving Keaweikekahiali'iokamoku). chief's or the ruler's court" (p. 54), in In such extended sidebars, Cordy often opposition to authoritative sources (e.g., introduces information about eras beyond Goldman 1970: 494; Kamakau 1992: 19; the estimated reign of a given focal ruler, Malo 1996: 172, 179) and absent justiftca which might have been better placed with tion. He further contends that the ex discussions of other chiefs and times. When tended family or 'ohana, as described by Cordy occasionally analyzes the archaeo Handy and Piiku'i (1972), existed nowhere logical and traditional records in concert, in Hawai'i in the late 1700s (p. 53), again the difficulties of temporally correlating the without adequate rationale. Such incom data remain unresolved, creating questions plete scholarship is also apparent in this regarding which factors in his reconstruc chapter and elsewhere in the form of nu tions were indeed causes and which were merous editorial oversights. effects. Closing the background section, Cordy Regardless of Cordy's primarily descrip evaluates in Chapter 3 the strengths and tive and somewhat disjunct approach, his weaknesses of his sources. Although he archaeological and historical portraits inter offers appropriate cautions about ftrsthand spersed throughout the oral traditions add accounts and oral traditions, his assessment dimension to those traditions and are valu of Hawai'i Island archaeology is insuffi able synthetic summaries. Moreover, in cient. He ignores the incomplete and corporated in this patchwork are gems of skewed record resulting in part from wide information that will be new to many spread commercial sugar production and researchers-evidence of Cordy's facility recent decades of contract archaeology fo with Hawai'i Island's archaeology, history, cusing on leeward environments-critical and oral traditions. issues for an islandwide research scope. Still, Cordy oddly neglects important Also disregarded in Chapter 3 are obsta works of his archaeological colleagues. An cles involved in linking chiefs in oral tradi incomplete list of such instances includes tions to sites not referenced in those tradi his overlooking Kirch (1994) in addressing tions. The problems arise from the wide variable windward and leeward subsistence temporal range of radiocarbon dates for strategies, Graves and Ladefoged (1991) in sites (when present) and the rough calendri critiquing volcanic glass 9ating, and Allen cal approximation of the reigns of rulers and McAnany (1994) in considering settle derived by assigning an arbitrary number of ment patterns in Ka'ii and the Handy and years to each generation in the chiefly gen Piiku'i (1972) 'ohana model. ealogies. Whether described sites were used Cordy similarly excludes or underutilizes before, during, or after a given ruler's reign appropriate oral traditions. However, there BOOK REVIEWS 317 are greater shortcomings in his interpreta society evolved as it did. Nonetheless, tions of them. For instance, he argues that Cordy's work will certainly be appreciated Hawai'i was settled in a single episode by for its useful descriptive summaries of re "one or a few canoes" and that "most gions, topics, and time periods. researchers today ... lean toward the view that the initial settlers ... never returned to their homeland" (pp. 113, 174-182). (In REFERENCES CITED fact, most researchers do not share Cordy's beliefs.) In holding steadfast to his earlier ABAD, C.K.C. dictum (see Cordy 1974: 97), Cordy dis 2000 The Evolution of Hawaiian Socio Political Complexity: An Analysis of misses the many voyages recounted in the Hawaiian Oral Traditions, Ph.D. oral traditions (and other pertinent data) diss., University of Hawai'i, Manoa. and unconvincirtgly proposes that the voy ALLEN, M. S., AND P. A. McANANY ages were actually interisland ones and that 1994 Environmental variability and tradi the foreign place-names mentioned were tional Hawaiian land use patterns: mere embellishments (pp. 179-180). Manuka's cultural islands in seas of By not considering the full explanatory lava. Asian Perspectives 33: 19-55. potential of oral traditions, Cordy misses CORDY, R. H. opportunities to develop conclusions from 1974 Complex rank cultural systems in the Hawaiian Islands: Suggested explana them. For example, he fails to recognize tions for their origin. Archaeology and the significant political changes associated Physical A nthropology in Oceania 9 :89 with Pili, the administrative innovations of 109.

'Umi, the reasons for Kalani'opu'u's multi FORNANDER, A. ple assaults on Maui, and most importantly 1996 Fornander's Ancient History of the the influences of the various islands' his Hawaiian People. Honolulu: Mutual tories on one another (discussed in Abad Publishing. 2000). GOLDMAN, I. Similarly, Cordy's comments on chiefly 1970 Ancient Polynesian Society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. genealogies are at times lacking. In a par ticularly egregious case, Cordy (p. 279) GRAVES, M. W., AND T. N. LADEFOGED 1991 The disparity between radiocarbon portrays Keawema'uhili as belonging to and volcanic glass dates: New evi Alapa'i's "junior lines" and says A1apa'i dence from Una'i, Hawai'i. Archaeol arranged (to Alapa'i's advantage) to have ogy in Oceania 26: 70-77.

Keawema'uhili wed to Ululani, an 'r lin HANDY, E.S.C., AND M. K. PUKU'. eage chiefess (points not supported by Cor 1972 The Polynesian Family System in dy's footnote). Rather, the union occurred Ka- '1I, Hawai'i. Rutland, VT: Charles "for reasons now unknown" (Fornander E. Tuttle Company. 1996: 309, fn. 1). Further, Keawema'uhili KAMAKAU, S. M. did not descend from any lineage of A1apa'i 1992 RI~ling Chiefs of Hawai'i. Honolulu: Kamehameha Schools Press. (head of Kohala's Mahi family). Keawe ma'uhiJi descended from 'r (of Hilo) and KIRCH, P. V. 1994 The Wet and the Dry: Irrigation and Keaweikekahiali'iokamoku (of Kona). As Agricultural Intensification in Polynesia. such, Keawema'uhili's marriage to Ululani Chicago: University ofChicago Press. threatened rather than helped Alapa'i, for MALO, D. it joined the possible heirs of the lineages 1996 Ka Mo'olelo Hawai'i; Hawaiian Tradi which were his potential opponents. tions. Translated and edited by Mal In the end, Exalted Sits the Chief will dis colm Naea Chun. Honolulu: First appoint those expecting a full, consistently People's Productions. accurate rendering of Hawai'i Island oral STANNARD, D. E. traditions and those seeking new insight 1989 Before the Horror: The Poplilation of Hawai'i on the Eve of Western Contact. from a combined analysis of multiple lines Honolulu: Social Science Research of evidence regarding why Hawai'i Island Institute, University of Hawai'i.