Style and function in East Polynesian fish-hooks.
Allen, Melinda S.
The concepts of style and function are theoretically defined from a
neo-Darwinian perspective and the expected spatial-temporal
distributions of each kind of trait outlined. Fish-hook assemblages from
Aitutaki, Cook Islands, are examined using this framework and related to
previously studied collections. Emerging stylistic patterns support
notions of interaction between certain East Polynesian archipelagos
around the 14th century Ad.
Traditional Polynesian fish-hooks, found in an array of sizes,
shapes, and raw materials, have been used primarily for chronological
purposes and to illustrate cultural affinities (e.g. Davidson 1967;
Emory et al. 1959; Sinoto 1962; 1967; 1968; Skinner 1942). Fish-hooks
may also inform on the process of adaptation, ecological relationships,
fishing strategies and tool performance (e.g. Kirch 1980; Reinman 1970),
but these issues have received comparatively little archaeological
attention in the Pacific. Before fish-hooks can be reliably used to
elucidate cultural patterns and evolutionary processes, stylistic and
functional traits must be explicitly separated. Failures to do so in the
past have too often provided ambiguous or inaccurate conclusions. This
paper looks at Polynesian fish-hooks from a theoretical framework that
explicitly defines the conditions which give rise to stylistic as
opposed to functional traits and the expected spatial-temporal
distributions of each. Traits hypothesized to be of one kind or the
other are empirically evaluated against the theoretical model. Previous
studies of Polynesian fish-hooks, and new data from the Cook Islands,
are discussed in relation to this framework.
The model: stylistic and functional traits
The term 'style' is often treated in a casual and emic
sense as characteristic features, artistry, or habits. As Neiman (1995:
29-30) observes, these abstract and poorly defined notions of style are
problematic for systematic archaeological analysis and fail to consider
the mechanisms responsible for stylistic variation. In the early- to
mid-20th-century, culture historians used a fairly rigorous, but
implicit, definition of style in developing the seriation method
(Teltser 1995). They observed that certain kinds of artefact traits
waxed and waned through time, displaying short-lived unimodal frequency
distributions. These historical traits proved useful for establishing
relative chronologies, provided that certain conditions were met, as
formalized in the seriation model (Dunnell 1970; 1981). The mechanism
underlying these distributions in time was identified as
'popularity', and in space as different forms of interaction,
including diffusion, migration and exchange (e.g. Deetz & Dethlefsen
1965; Rouse 1939).
Dunnell (1978a) subsequently observed that stylistic traits have a
decidedly stochastic character, similar to patterns generated during
random clade simulations (see Gould et al. 1977). This led him to
propose that stylistic forms could be defined in an neo-Darwinian
framework as those which have no detectable selective value (i.e. are
selectively neutral). While style in general may have a selective
component, functioning as a reservoir of variability (Dunnell 1978a), or
to mark social identities and boundaries (Meltzer 1981: 314), particular
styles are not directly explicable by natural selection. If stylistic
traits are not subject to selection, by definition, then their
transmission is accounted for in probabilistic terms, with the rate and
spread of change attributable to characters of the transmission systems,
the frequency of interaction and the rate of innovation (Dunnell 1978a;
Neiman 1990; 1995; O'Brien & Holland 1990).
Artefact similarities may also result from analogous processes,
arising independently in response to similar environmental conditions
(including similar raw materials). Archaeologists became fully aware of
the importance and qualitative difference of functional variability in
the 1960s (Binford 1973; Binford & Binford 1966; Jelinek 1976). This
was perhaps best demonstrated by the well-known Mousterian tool debate,
where Bordes (1961) argued that assemblage variability reflected
distinct cultural groups, while Binford (1973) maintained it related to
functionally diverse tools. The evolutionary model (Dunnell 1978a;
1978b) specifies that functional forms are those which directly affect
the Darwinian fitness of the populations in which they occur. The
distribution of these traits arises from the absolute difference in
fitness between one variant and that (those) it replaces. Functional
traits typically persist for long periods of time, then decline rapidly
when selective conditions change, or a new and more successful variant
appears. Functional traits are also predictable, correlating with
particular environments, patterns of tool use, activities and other
functional complexes, and ahistorical, cross-cutting regional and
temporal boundaries (Dunnell 1978a; Meltzer 1981: 316).
The dichotomy between stylistic and functional traits is theoretical,
mutually exclusive and exhaustive in principle, and leads to specific
expectations as to how these two classes of traits will behave through
time and across space [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 1 OMITTED]. The
identification of a particular trait as stylistic or functional begins
as a hypothesis, which is then empirically evaluated by comparing the
spatio-temporal patterns of particular traits with those of the model.
Notably, something that is stylistic in one context may become
functional in another, as function is driven by selection and selective
conditions may change across time and space. In Polynesian fish-hook
studies, distinguishing between stylistic and functional traits aids in
understanding the origin of specific features of fish-hook design and
how they functioned in capturing prey. At another scale, these traits
are a critical tool for tracking historical and adaptive processes in
Polynesian prehistory (Allen 1992a; 1992b; Cachola-Abad 1993).
Stylistic variability in Polynesian fish-hooks
In East Polynesia [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 2 OMITTED], where ceramics
are lacking, fish-hooks have been used for relative dating and for
assessing historical relationships. The successes, and shortcomings, of
these past efforts demonstrate the importance of separating stylistic
and functional traits and the utility of an explicit theoretical model
for evaluating the empirical results of a given analysis.
The seriation method (after Dunnell 1981) was first applied to
Polynesian materials by Emory et al. (1959). They examined the temporal
distribution of two-piece hook point and base lashing devices (see
below) and the occurrence of barbs (which showed little temporal
variation). Green (1961) subsequently pointed out the chronological
potential of fish-hook heads (functionally the line lashing device),
leading Sinoto (1962) to develop his well-known classification of head
morphologies [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 3 OMITTED]. Sinoto applied the
head classification to assemblages from Nu'alolo Shelter,
Kaua'i (N=202) and three South Point, Hawai'i sites (N=1056)
but even with these large assemblages, he had difficulty temporally
ordering the basal layer of a key site, H-8. Given that Sinoto's
(1962) analysis has been a cornerstone of efforts to order the South
Point sites chronologically (Dye 1992; Green 1971), cross-date Hawaiian
sites and determine historical relationships with other Polynesian
islands (Davidson 1967; Goto 1986; Sinoto 1967; 1970), it is important
to understand why his seriation was not entirely successful.
Dunnell's (1970; 1981) theoretical formulation of the seriation
model was particularly useful in this regard, enabling Green (1971) to
identify the underlying causes. First, certain types were not
continuously distributed through time, suggesting inadequate samples of
rarer forms (Green 1971: 171). More importantly, Green argued that the
analytic units (e.g. the stratigraphic zones) were not of equivalent
temporal duration, ranging from intervals of 100 to 400 years. Drawing
on illustrations of the H-8 stratigraphy (in Emory & Sinoto 1969:
figures 6b & 8), Green observed that the lowest cultural layer was
'in reality composed of a series of discontinuous deposits
accumulated intermittently over a long span of time', resulting in
'a group whose age duration is no longer minimal'.
Importantly, Green's (1971) analyses supported the other
chronological interpretations of Sinoto (1962).
Elsewhere in Polynesia, use of the seriation method and attempts to
identify historical types have been troubled by the inclusion of
inappropriate (e.g. functional) traits, with the result that no clear or
consistent order appears (Allen 1992a). Suggs' (1961) Marquesan
fish-hook types, for example, conflate stylistic and functional traits;
much of the identified variation may, in fact, be functional, including
the rotating versus jabbing distinction (see below), hook thickness and
size and the occurrence of barbs. Variation in Suggs' assemblages
also could reflect different cultural traditions (spatial variation) or
ecological differences (functional variation) rather than time, as he
compares sites from varied environments and localities across Nuku Hiva Island. For example, three distinctive types (Curved Shank, Rotating
Hook and Bent Upper Shank) could represent early types, environmental
variability or, a particular cultural tradition, as they are restricted
to two early occupations, both from the same site within a large
relatively sheltered bay. Only two types - Jabbing and Compound -
provide the unambiguous unimodal frequency distributions which signal a
successful seriation of stylistic types, while another four types are
not continuously distributed through time: Obtuse Recurved Point, Acute
Recurved Point, Heavy Shank and Open Jabbing. These discontinuous
distributions (at Sites NH4, NH1I and NHo3I) suggest sample-size
problems, an issue also raised by Anderson et al. (1994: 42) at the
Marquesan site of Hane, Uahuka Island. Finally, the lack of
correspondence between the frequency distributions of Site NHo3 Stratum
II and those of other sites suggests that the units may not be of
comparable duration. As Anderson et al. (1994: 42) observe for Hane, the
chronological significance of most fish-hook variation, as thus far
reported, is ambiguous.
Another potential stylistic attribute is the relationship between
fish-hook shank and point length (expressed as the shank/point ratio).
Archaeologically, Sinoto (1967: 354-5) typically found longer points on
rotating hooks than on jabbing forms - suggesting the trait is
functional at this scale. He also noted geographic variation which might
be stylistic. On rotating forms, ratios averaged 1.35 in the Society
Islands, 1.46 in the Hawaiian Islands, and 1.43 in the Marquesas
Islands. Goto's (1986: 286) study on larger Hawaiian assemblages
found shank/point ratios on early rotating hooks ranging from 1.47 to
1.59, those on late hooks from the same area ranging from 1.54 to 1.64.
Comparison of hook ratios from diverse environments revealed that the
Hawaiian collections were internally homogenous relative to those from
other East Polynesian localities (Goto 1986: 279), suggesting that
shank/point relationships are selectively neutral within the broader
functional categories of rotating and jabbing. Potential functional and
technological aspects of shank/point ratio also bear consideration.
Johannes (1981:117) suggested that long points work well for species
with narrow, deep mouths or for vigorous fighters which might easily
dislodge a short point. Reinman (1970) observed that a short point would
more evenly distribute mechanical stresses.
Classification issues
Earlier studies also raise the issue of how best to describe and
analyse assemblage variation. Regional scale studies require an
analytical structure that is explicit, replicable, accommodates
variability and facilitates comparisons. As Rolett (1990: 248) observes,
Suggs' Marquesan typology is a non-classificatory arrangement
(after Dunnell 1971), wherein types are described rather than defined
based on groups of specimens. The types thus produced are historical,
contingency-bound and 'defined' by the assemblages at hand,
constraining application to new assemblages. Types so defined also tend
to ignore or suppress variability, rather than seeing it as a source of
change. Rolett (1990: 248-9; 1993: 40) suggests that such a
non-classificatory arrangement is preferable when working with
fragmentary materials and erroneously implies that paradigms (see below)
require whole specimens. In fact, it is the attributes used in
developing a typology, not the structure of the analytical device, which
determines whether whole or partial specimens are needed. Moreover, as
Green (1961: 142) observes and Sinoto (1962) demonstrates,
classifications based on portions of objects can be quite useful, as are
hybrid paradigms (Dunnell 1971). Suggs' types, defined on the basis
of both shank and point features, do require complete, or nearly
complete, hooks. Unless the appropriate parts are present, assigning
fragments to Suggs' types can only be an intuitive judgement of
whether or not enough 'necessary' features are shared.
Sinoto's (1962; 1991) analysis of fish-hook heads is a taxonomy
(after Dunnell 1971: 7784), mistakenly identified by Rolett (1993: 40)
as a paradigm with a 'taxonomic aspect'. While taxonomies are
a kind of classification (sensu Dunnell 1971), they are non-dimensional
in character. In taxonomies, classes are created through a series of
hierarchical oppositions. The resulting classes are not equivalent, as
the oppositions leading to particular classes are not necessarily
parallel in number or kind. Thus, classes may overlap in certain traits,
leading to errors in the assignment of specimens if the hierarchical
order is not strictly followed. Although more rigorous and replicable
than Suggs' (1961) approach, the non-equivalent classes of
taxonomies, and their non-permutable order, makes inter-assemblage
comparisons difficult (see Dunnell 1971).
Paradigms (after Dunnell 1971), in contrast to the above, are a
particularly parsimonious means of creating analytic units. The
inclusion of a particular trait in a paradigm begins as a hypothesis
related to the purpose of the classification, as for example the notion
that point curvature relates to hook function. The result is that class
definitions are tied to a particular problem, rather than to a specific
assemblage. This gives the paradigm an ahistorical character, which
facilitates application to new assemblages. Classes are formed by the
intersection of various attributes. More specifically, paradigms have
the following features:
* each class is defined by the same set of criteria: if size is an
attribute, then it is considered for all types not just some;
* the attributes are not weighted: no feature is considered more
important in type separation than any other;
* the modes are mutually exclusive: only one value can be displayed
at a time; and
* the modes are exhaustive: one value must be displayed.
Given these features, the assignment of specimens to classes is not
open to the kind of ambiguities of taxonomies. Moreover, all classes are
comparable (defined by a common set of attributes) to all other classes
in the same classification, a feature which is critical when trying to
determine the origins and significance of traits on a regional scale.
Finally, the structure of a paradigm is such that it is easily
expandable and able to accommodate infinite variability, again
contrasting with taxonomies. Overall, paradigmatic classifications
provide systematic information on variability, distributions and
abundances and lay a firm foundation for comparative studies. Two
paradigmatic classifications are used herein, one for fish-hook heads
and a second for fish-hook shape.
Background to the Aitutaki analysis
Aitutaki is an almost-atoll (after Stoddart 1975: 31-3) in the
southern Cook Islands. The roughly triangular reef surrounds a
relatively shallow 50-sq. km lagoon. A 16-sq. km volcanic mainland lies
on the western edge of the lagoon, flanked to the west by a shallow, c.
0.8 to 1.7 km wide, reef flat; beyond this the ocean floor drops
dramatically. Two tiny volcanic islets (Moturakau and Rapota) are found
within the lagoon and a series of coralline islets are located along the
eastern reef platform. Biotically, the richest marine habitats are the
outer reef flats and the coral-studded lagoon floor (see Allen 1992a:
79-84).
Until recently, angling was thought to have played a relatively minor
role in traditional Aitutaki fishing strategies. Buck (1927: 306-7)
describes two traditional hooks: a one-piece barracuda (Sphyraena) or
toko hook made from forked branches of iron-wood (Casuarina) and a large
wooden two-piece shark hook. A metal hook used for catching bonefish (Albulidae) or kiokio may have been a traditional form rendered in iron,
but one high chief opined that the only true native hook in the southern
Cook Islands was the toko hook (Buck 1927: 307). In 1792, Captain Bligh
observed turtle-shell hooks on Aitutaki (Oliver 1988: 267), while
ethnographic accounts from other southern Cook Islands (Buck 1944:
236-41; Gill 1880) report hooks of Turbo, coconut-shell, turtle-shell
and Pandanus barbs. Neither wood nor turtle-shell hooks were found in
the well-preserved cultural strata of Moturakau Rockshelter, suggesting
these materials were never of much importance locally.
Most of the archaeologically recovered hooks are made from
pearl-shell (Pinctada margaritifera), a bivalve now rare in the local
lagoon; a smaller number were made from Turbo (probably T. setosus), a
locally abundant gastropod. Four Aitutaki sites [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE
4 OMITTED] yielded fish-hooks: 151 from Moturakau Rockshelter (MR-1); 5
from Ureia (AIT-10); 6 from Hosea (AIT-50); and 1 from Aretai (AIT-49)
(Allen 1992a; Allen & Schubel 1990; Allen & Steadman 1990).
While Ureia is the oldest site, dating to 1000 BP, the bulk of the
fish-hooks come from the lengthy Moturakau Rockshelter sequence. Given
the small sample, the Moturakau fish-hooks are compared by two broad
chrono-stratigraphic units: Zones H-E date from the mid 13th to 15th
century and Zones D-A date from the late 15th century to the historic
period. From the 16th century (Zone C) onward, fish-hooks became scarce.
At European contact (AD 1773) shell fish-hooks were rare to
non-existent, and other fishing techniques dominated (Allen 1992b; Buck
1944).
Aitutaki stylistic analysis
Typically, the fishing line is attached to the most proximal end of
the fish-hook, the 'head' (after Sinoto 1991: 86), although
the shank area immediately below the head may also be involved (see
Davidson 1967; Kirch 1993). Despite this important functional role, the
particular morphologies of these line-lashing devices have proven to be
good chronological indicators, consistent with the definition of style
used here. Building on Sinoto's (1962; 1991) seminal study,
morphological features of the Aitutaki fish-hook heads are explicated as
a paradigm and supersede earlier efforts (i.e. Allen 1992a; Allen &
Schubel 1990). The chronological sensitivity of fish-hook heads is taken
as a given; the objective is to capture more effectively the variation
in head morphology, while drawing upon the advantages of a paradigmatic
structure. The resulting classes are defined by the intersection of
three dimensions ([ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 5 OMITTED]; TABLE 1). For
example, Class 613 has an stepped proximal end (Mode 6), a straight
inner edge (Mode 1), and a protrudent outer edge (Mode 3). Of the 96
potential stylistic classes, 16 are filled by the Moturakau assemblage
of 69 specimens with finished intact heads. While the small sample does
not allow a rigorous test of the historical distribution of these
classes, at least three head classes (Classes 223,213, and 613) have
frequency distributions suggestive of a stylistic origin [ILLUSTRATION
FOR FIGURE 6 OMITTED]. As a whole, the hooks reflect a shift from
fish-hook heads with straight or concave proximal ends, reduced inner
edges and protrudent outer edges (e.g. Class 123,223); to ones with
concave proximal ends (sometimes accentuated on one side), unmodified
inner shanks, and protrudent outer edges (e.g. Class 213); to those
where a stepped proximal end combines with a protrudent outer edge to
produce a prominent knob (e.g. Class 613).
Shank/point ratios are treated here as a stylistic attribute. Ratios
were determined for each hook by calculating maximum shank length
divided by maximum hook width. Shank/point ratios for the 13 measurable
Aitutaki hooks, all pearl-shell, ranged from 0.7 to 1-51 (mean=1.1,
[Sigma]=0.24).
Regional comparisons of stylistic traits
The trends in fish-hook head styles seen on Aitutaki have parallels
with hooks recovered from the 14th-century Anai'o Site on nearby
Ma'uke Island (Walter 1989; 1990). Comparison of the Aitutaki and
Ma'uke assemblages is facilitated by Walter's (1989) use of a
paradigmatic classification, even though the specific features defining
the classes are not isomorphic. At Anai'o, Class 223 (following
TABLE 1) is the most abundant form (N=8), while on Moturakau the
frequency of this class peaks during Zone F (late 14th-early 15th
century AD). Class 223 also appears in the 16th-century occupation of
Hosea (AIT-50). Classes 113 and 213, also at Anai'o, occur on
Moturakau between the late 14th and mid 15th century. Another
well-represented head style at Anai'o (N=4) is Class 133, a form
not found in the Moturakau Rockshelter. The consistency in fish-hook
heads in small samples from these two sites suggests a degree of
interaction between Aitutaki and Ma'uke at this time, as does other
independent evidence (Allen 1992a; in press; Walter 1989; 1990). Indeed,
pearl-shell is exotic to Ma'uke and could have been an import from
Aitutaki, the closest source.
Gross hook morphology, in contrast, varies significantly between the
two assemblages, with jabbing forms better represented on Ma'uke.
These functional differences in hook morphology undoubtedly reflect
differences in the respective marine environments - the lagoon and
extensive reef fiats of Aitutaki as opposed to the narrow, fringing reef and deep near-shore waters of Ma'uke. The association of the same
head forms, with varied hook shapes believed to be functional,
underscores the stylistic character of the former.
Comparisons with fish-hook assemblages from the northern Cook Islands
are also appropriate, as these atolls were a potential source of
pearl-shell for the southern Cook Islands. Except for Aitutaki and
Manuae Islands, pearl-shell is an import, or rare, elsewhere in the
southern Cook Islands. Nevertheless, pearl-shell hooks are found in
early (c. AD 1000 to 1500) contexts on the islands of Aitutaki (Allen
1992b), Ma'uke (Walter 1990), Mangaia (Kirch et al. 1992) and
Rarotonga (Bellwood 1978). Subsequently, use of pearl-shell declines
throughout the southern group, and Turbo hooks increase on at least two
islands, Aitutaki and Mangaia. On Aitutaki, Allen's (1994)
geomorphic studies suggest terrigenous sedimentation may have altered
the lagoon environment and led to local reductions in indigenous
pearl-shell. Over-exploitation could also have been a contributing
factor (Allen 1992a: 91). Intes et al. (1982) observe that pearl-shell
is especially unstable under intensive exploitation, given the
accessibility of the stocks, the ease with which they can be harvested,
and slow reproductive rates (typically not until the second or third
year of life). Based on his marine studies, G. Paulay (pers. comm. 1995)
suggests that Aitutaki's lagoon may simply have been too shallow
and all-accessible to over-harvesting.
Alternatively, pearl-shell declines could reflect a breakdown in
exchange between the northern and southern Cook Islands. If fish-hook
head morphology measures interaction (as argued herein), and the
northern atolls were a pearl-shell source for the southern group, then
we should see similar styles in the two areas at comparable time
periods. However, this is not the case, at least on Pukapuka where the
dominant style consists of a straight inner shank, an angled proximal
end, and an outer edge that is notched or sometimes stepped, therein
creating a small projection which usually does not extend beyond the
shank (see Chikamori 1987; 1988). Information on early head styles in
the other northern atolls is lacking; Yamaguchi (1995: 49) reports a
single late prehistoric pearlshell fish-hook from Tongareva with a Class
132 head form (see also undated hook from Manihiki in Skinner 1942:
278).
The earliest East Polynesian assemblages are found in the Marquesas
Islands, whether one accepts the recent revised settlement estimates of
c. AD 700 (Anderson et al. 1994), or a pre-AD 300 date (Kirch 1986).
Detailed comparisons await application of comparable classifications and
quantitative information on the frequency of particular forms. Casual
observation, however, suggests that the somewhat later assemblages
reported here, and from other southern Cook Islands (Y. Igarashi pers.
comm. 1994; Kirch et al. 1992; Walter 1989), bear many resemblances to
those of the Marquesas Islands (Sinoto 1970; Suggs 1961), suggesting a
common origin. Early southern Cook Island fish-hooks heads also are
similar to those from the Society (Sinoto & McCoy 1975; Sinoto 1988)
and Hawaiian (Sinoto 1962) Islands, New Zealand (Duff 1956; Leach 1979)
and, to a lesser extent, Tuamotu Islands (Sinoto 1976), Mangareva (Green
1960), the Austral Islands (Verin 1969) and Rapa Nui (Easter Island)
(Ayres 1979). Of particular note are forms with straight and slightly
concave proximal ends, protrudent outer edges, and reduced inner edges
(e.g. Classes 223 and 123).
The Aitutaki Class 613 form, typically a late style in the Hawaiian
(Sinoto 1962) and Society Islands (Beasley 1928), first appears in the
Moturakau Rockshelter in the mid-15th century and by late prehistory is
the sole head style on Aitutaki. A single example of a comparable form
is also known from a post mid-14th-century context on Maupiti Island
(Emory & Sinoto 1964: 155, 158). Green (1971) suggests the change
from notched to protrudent (after this classification;
'knobbed' sensu Sinoto 1962) forms in the Hawaiian Islands
occurred after the mid 14th century, while Dye's (1992) re-analysis
of the radiocarbon evidence suggests a' post-AD 1650 shift - a date
which seems too late. On Rapa Nui, where archaeologists have
traditionally assumed isolation following colonization, Ayres (1979: 75,
85) reports late hooks with a 'distinctive, protruding posterior
knob' which he equates with Sinoto's HT4 class, but none of
his illustrated examples appear fully comparable.
Weaker stylistic linkages are seen with fish-hooks from West
Polynesia. One of the largest assemblages (N=28) comes from the
To'aga site, Manu'a Islands, dating to roughly 2500 BP (Kirch
1993: 160-63). Fashioned primarily from Turbo setosus, the heads on
these hooks are in several cases not differentiated from the shank
proper and small notches or grooves on the proximal end of the outer
shank apparently served for line attachment. One Aitutaki specimen is
broadly similar (Class 122), with two shallow notches on the outer
shank, but also a straight proximal end and a reduced inner shank. Two
other Manuan hooks have projections on the inner shank and would be
classified herein as Class 541. A similar style has recently been
recovered on Mangaia by Y. Igarashi (pers. comm. 1994) and heads with
notched inner shanks are common in Marquesan sites (Ottino 1992a; 1992b;
Suggs 1961).
In sum, both Hawaiian seriations and regional distributional patterns
suggest that the morphology of fish-hook heads is stylistic, and by
extension, chronologically sensitive. In the southern Cook Islands, the
distribution of certain head classes across two hook shapes of distinct
mechanical properties (rotating and jabbing forms) further supports this
stylistic interpretation. The appearance and increased frequency of
'knobbed' (Class 613) heads on several islands across the
region at broadly comparable times suggests that interaction between the
Cook-Society and Society-Hawaiian Islands continued at least through the
14th century. This corroborates independent evidence for interaction
between these three island groups (e.g. Allen in press; Allen &
Johnson in preparation; Cachola-Abad 1994; Green pers. comm. 1995).
TABLE 2. Available data on shank/point ratios in rotating hooks.
(See text for sources.)
island group X range [Sigma] N material
Pukapuka 1.09 0.86-1.30 0.10 24 PS
Mangareva 1.10 0.62-1.60 0.32 12 PS
S. Cook Islands
Ma'uke 1.13 1.10-1.20 ? 3 PS
Aitutaki 1.14 0.70-1.51 0.24 13 PS
Austral Islands 1.31 1.04-1.56 0.15 9 Turbo
Society Islands 1.36 ? ? ? PS/Turbo
Rapa Nui 1.41 ? ? 16 Bone
Marquesas Islands 1.43 ? ? ? PS/Bone
Hawaiian Islands(*) 1.53 1.47-1.59 ? 33 Bone
* Early forms only.
TABLE 2 compares shank/point ratios for several islands, based on
published analyses (Ayres 1979; Goto 1986:280 for Hawaiian Islands;
Sinoto 1967:354-5 for Marquesas and Society Islands; Walter 1989) and
measurements of published illustrations (Chikamori 1988; Green 1960;
Verin 1969). While the available assemblages are quite small, not
necessarily contemporaneous, and metric data is often incompletely
reported, some interesting geographic patterns emerge. Low shank/point
ratios typify central East Polynesia islands, but are also found in
early New Zealand assemblages (see examples in Davidson 1984: 67). The
highest shank/point ratios characterize the Marquesas and Hawaiian
Islands, both relatively isolated archipelagos, while the Austral
Islands, Society Islands and Rapa Nui are intermediate in this regard.
Three alternatives are possible:
* shank/point variation is stylistic; variation between archipelagos
will exceed that within;
* variation is functional and related to hook performance; variation
will correlate with marine habitats or prey and intra-archipelago
heterogeneity should be expected; or
* variation is functional and related to raw material; shank/point
ratios will co-vary with raw material and geographic patterning will
reflect raw material distributions. Discerning between the three
alternatives will require more data than is presently available.
Functional variability in Polynesian fish-hooks
Functional dimensions of fish-hook morphology are more poorly
demonstrated. Theoretical discussions (e.g. Allen 1992b; Reinman 1970)
have dominated with few practical or quantitative demonstrations of
specific functional relationships. Ethnographic studies offer some
insights as to traditional Pacific Island fishing strategies, their
relative productivity, and relevant features of marine environments
(e.g. Ayres 1979; Buck 1927; Conte 1988; Davidson 1967; Johannes 1981;
Kirch & Dye 1979; Nordhoff 1930; Rolett 1990). However, in no case
has systematic catch data been directly related to hook morphologies.
Johannes' (1981) Palauan study provides the most thoughtful
analysis of the relationships between mechanical properties of hooks and
physical parameters of fish-feeding behaviours and marine environments.
While cultural practices may vary between Micronesia and Polynesia, the
physical relationships he identifies should hold across similar fish
morphologies and marine conditions; the applicability of his
observations would be improved by quantitative analyses and
cross-regional studies (see also Johannes 1081: 120).
Faunal assemblages also may be helpful in determining hook function,
as specific prey types should co-occur archaeologically with particular
hook morphologies. However, use of fauna in this manner will require
constructing classifications that relate directly to fish-feeding
behaviours, mouth morphologies or habitats, rather than relying on
biological classifications (see Allen 1992a: 330-31; 364-76; 420-28).
Even thus classified, it is more likely that probabilistic rather than
deterministic relationships will hold between particular hook features
and prey types, as exemplified by modern fishing practices (e.g. Lewers
1978).
Several functional categories of fish-hooks and related lures are
recognized in Polynesia. Fish-hooks designed for specific prey include
the large, typically wooden, shark hooks (e.g. Buck 1944: 172-94;
Grudger 1927); bonito hooks and lures used in trolling (e.g. Buck 1932);
and hooked multi-component octopus lures (Pfeffer 1995). The focus here
is on functional variation in the more generalized one- and two-piece
fish-hooks, most commonly made from shell and bone.
Nordhoff (1930: 155-6) first drew attention to a key functional
dimension of Polynesian hooks, the relationship between hook curvature
and the mechanical action produced when stress is applied to the fishing
line. Hooks with curved shanks, in-curved points, or both, rotate in the
prey's mouth when the bait is nibbled or swallowed (rotating
hooks), while hooks with parallel shank and point axes must be pulled
sharply to secure the fish (jabbing hooks). Sinoto (1991) suggests the
two types can be separated by extending the fish-hook point with an
imaginary line: in a rotating form the point intersects the hook shank,
in a jabbing form it does not. Sinoto (1991: 97) and others (Coutts
1975; Goto 1986) recognize variability in these two categories, but no
one has explored the spatio-temporal importance of this to any degree.
The practical choice of a rotating or a jabbing form depends on both
the desired prey and local marine conditions. Rotating hooks are
particularly useful in deep waters, or where the currents are strong and
setting a hook by jerking is difficult (Johannes 1981: 113-14; Reinman
1970). They are also useful in shallow waters when the intended prey is
large or coral heads abundant (Johannes 1981: 116). Jabbing forms are
more commonly used in shallow waters and under other conditions where a
taut line can be maintained, as for example, trolling.
The greatest stress on a hook is at the bend. The bend can be
strengthened by:
* thickening the bend;
* reducing the length of the hook shank; and
* in-curving the shank and point limbs, making the hook more
circular, to disperse the stresses (Reinman 1970: 54).
In this respect, rotating forms can have advantages over jabbing
forms, as stresses are more equally distributed and less stress is
generated in setting the hook.
Within the rotating form, variations in the 'gape' (the
distance between the hook point and shank) also affect performance. The
strongest rotating hook is one where the gape is narrow. However, the
gape distance is also a compromise between securely hooking a fish,
which demands a narrow gape, versus speedy removal of a fish once
caught, which calls for a wide gape (Johannes 1981: 115). Jabbing forms
(especially without barbs) are often preferred when fish must be removed
rapidly, as in trolling (Johannes 1981; see also Goto 1986). In rotating
hooks, Johannes (1981: 114) noted a functional relationship between gape
size and water depth; hooks with narrower gapes were used in the deepest
waters where the prey are often large and of high quality. These
theoretical etic and emic relationships between hook form and catch need
to be systematically evaluated before we can confidently use them to
understand the archaeological record.
In the Hawaiian Islands, Emory et al. (1959: 36) found the relative
frequencies of rotating and jabbing hooks to be fairly stable through
time, consistent with a functional, as opposed to stylistic, origin. In
the Marquesas Islands, in contrast, jabbing hooks became more common in
late prehistory (Dye 1990; Kirch 1980; Rolett 1990; Anderson et al.
1994). These changing frequencies could reflect a change in fishing
environments (i.e. abandonment of offshore fishing) (Dye 1990; Rolett
1990); development of adaptations that made jabbing hooks a better
choice (e.g. a change in selective value of this form) (Kirch 1980); or
a combination of the two. Dye (1990; also Rolett 1990) uses the
archaeo-fauna to support the first alternative.
A second potential functional dimension, hook size, relates to the
size and the kind of prey that can be captured. Hook size has been
measured by hook width (Owens & Merrick 1994), point length (Coutts
1975; Goto 1990) and hook length (Kirch & Yen 1982). Some
generalizations include: hook width is not closely related to fish mouth
width (within a species), but is almost always smaller than mouth width
(Owens & Merrick 1994); small hooks are best for fish with small
mouths and fish which nibble rather than rapidly strike; and large hooks
are more effective for large, voracious carnivores such as lutjanids
(snappers), scombrids (tunas) and carangids (jacks, trevallys) (Johannes
1981). Johannes (1981: 117) also observed that wide bends catch deeply
in the fish's jaw and are more difficult for the fish to spit out.
They work well with large-mouthed species such as groupers (Serranidae)
and most Holocentridae, and in small sizes for the more cautious
nibblers like the smaller-mouthed wrasses (Labridae). Hooks with narrow
bends are used for fish with small mouths, such as Holocentrus.
Archaeologically, Emory et al. (1959: 14-18) and Ayres (1979: 85)
demonstrate two distinct size classes in Hawaiian and Rapa Nui
assemblages respectively. However, these are not related to particular
prey or fishing strategies. Kirch & Yen (1982: 239-43) comparing
modern metal hooks of known use with those from Tikopian archaeological
contexts, identified three size groups. The intermediate group, in both
modern and archaeological cases, was the most variable and currently
associated with a variety of fishing techniques. Modern hooks of less
than 20 mm in length were used for inshore angling, while those greater
than 60 mm in length were used for tow-line and bottom-line fishing of
large prey.
Raw material must also be considered a functional trait to the degree
that it affects the cost and success of a particular hook form.
Production costs include raw material acquisition, ease or difficulty of
manufacture, and the possibility of breakage during manufacture.
Performance costs include the success of prey capture and the likely
use-life of the hook. Based on archaeological findings and structural
variables, Allen (1992b) hypothesized that pearl-shell is more easily
worked, relative to Turbo, allowing more varied shapes and fewer
manufacturing failures. Shell and bone also have been compared, with
Reinman (1970: 51, 55) arguing that shell is brittle and has little
resiliency, and others (Green 1961: 143; Kirch 1985: 201) opining that
shell's cross-laminated structure makes it stronger at the critical
area, the hook bend. Engineering comparisons of pearl-shell, Turbo and
bone are now underway.
By the archaeological evidence, pearl-shell was the raw material of
choice for shell fishhooks in Polynesia (Allen 1992b); other species,
such as Turbo and Trochus, were most frequently used when pearl-shell
was rare or unavailable, as in West Polynesia. In addition to its
potential structural advantages, the sheen of pearl-shell may have
enhanced hook performance, as variations in lustre, colour, and
intensity were recognized and valued by native fishermen (Kennedy
1930:102-3; Nordhoff 1930: 140; 240-43). Green (1961; also Reinman 1970:
57) observed that in East Polynesian islands where pearl-shell was
uncommon, hooks were typically made of bone, as in the Hawaiian Islands,
New Zealand and Rapa Nui; a small number of bone hooks also occur early
in the Hane sequence (Sinoto 1967: 347-8). On islands where bone was the
most common raw material, two-piece hooks are often found. Kirch (1982:
74) attributes this development to raw material constraints, suggesting
that bone is less resistant than shell to shear stress. With two-piece
hooks, the weak bend region is effectively 'broken' and then
reinforced with a flexible lashing.
Fish-hook assemblages from South Point, Hawa'i (Emory et al.
1959) provide an example of how style can serve as a 'reservoir of
variability', some which may acquire adaptive value with changing
selective conditions (Dunnell 1978b: 199; Dunnell & Feathers 1991:
34). Sinoto (1962) identified eight Hawaiian fish-hook head styles, of
which five are represented in FIGURE 3. Knobbing is one such style
(HT-4) and first appears in Site H-1 Layer II-U. As a head form, it
persists along with two to three other styles into the late prehistoric
period [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 3 OMITTED]. Knobbing later appears as a
basal fastening devices for two-piece hooks (Site H-1 Layer I-U). Here,
in contrast to fish-hook heads, knobbed bases replace the single earlier
base form, consistent with the model of function [ILLUSTRATION FOR
FIGURE 1 OMITTED]. Moreover, the notched to knobbed transition is
gradual in one-piece fish-hook heads but rapid in two-piece hook point
bases (Sinoto 1968: 61), again supportive of the idea that the knobbed
basal morphology positively affected hook performance, and rapidly
assumed a selective advantage over the older notched form. The new
design probably strengthened the connection between hook shank and
point. The reinforced bend also apparently allowed larger hooks, as Goto
(1986: 287, 291) observed an increase in the size of two-piece hooks at
South Point after the appearance of knobbed bases. Additionally,
two-piece hooks increase in abundance while large one-piece hooks
decline, suggesting that the former is functionally superior.
Aitutaki functional analysis
The foregoing discussion identifies potential relationships between
aspects of hook morphology and particular marine environments and prey,
while the evolutionary model outlines the expected temporal patterning
of functional traits in general. Fully understanding functional
variability in Polynesian fish-hooks will require a number of
assemblages from varied environments and lengthy archaeological
sequences. The Aitutaki data contribute to these discussions with new
evidence from a lagoon marine environment and a 1000-year sequence of
marine exploitation. Three dimensions of hook morphology are considered
here: gross hook shape, length (a measure of size) and width (a second
measure of size which may be relevant to certain prey types).
A simple paradigmatic classification based on two dimensions of
morphology describes the shape of 13 complete hooks (TABLE 3). As both
the shank and point may be curved, hooks are oriented along an axis that
bisects the hook, into roughly equal proportions, through the bend. Of
the four potential classes generated by this paradigm, three have
members [ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 7 OMITTED]. Shape Class 12 (N = 6), the
best-represented, consists of hooks with straight shanks and strongly
in-curved points. Class 21 (N = 3) hooks, with straight points but
in-curved shanks, would rotate under stress from the line, but less so
than members of Class 12. Some Class 21 hooks would be considered
'jabbing' forms by traditional definitions. The Class 21 shape
apparently incorporates the advantages of better penetration associated
with curved forms, and the functional requirements of an open form, most
useful for rapidly striking fish or when quick removal and re-casting is
required. Class 22 (N = 4) hooks, where both the shank and the point are
in-curved (especially so in the Aitutaki assemblages) would produce a
strongly rotating action. Rotating shapes like these would penetrate
well, be stronger than less curved shapes, and hold the fish more
securely (Reinman 1970: 51-4).
Straight shank fragments (N = 10) could be from either Class 11
('jabbing' hooks in traditional typologies) or Class 12 type
hooks. The former was not represented among the complete Aitutaki hooks,
while the latter was the most common hook form, suggesting that most (or
all) of these straight shanks fragments are from Class 12 members. Seven
fragments with strongly in-curved points were recovered; these could be
members of Class 12 or 22. Three fragments with marked curvature may
represent Class 21 or 22. Overall the fragments, as with the whole
specimens, indicate a predominance of rotating shapes.
Three potential functional types were identified within the general
rotating morphology, as expressed in the Aitutaki shape classification;
those with narrow gapes are most common. The pattern of hook shape,
especially those with narrow gapes, suggest that deep-water angling
(including bottom-line fishing) was favoured, potentially both within
the lagoon and off the outer reef. This interpretation is broadly
corroborated by the Aitutaki faunal evidence where relatively large,
deep-water fish, such as lutjanids and carangids, are more common early
in time when angling is well-represented (Allen 1992a). The lack of
jabbing (Class 11) hooks is consistent with the use of netting and
spearing technologies in the shallow near-shore zone, as was the case at
European contact.
Hook length (shank height) was evaluated for general distributional
patterns rather than in relation to specific prey. The Aitutaki hooks
are quite variable in size, ranging from a large specimen of 71.6 mm
length to a diminutive bend fragment of 9.7 mm width. Early forms are,
on the average, slightly longer than late forms ([ILLUSTRATION FOR
FIGURE 8 OMITTED], TABLE 4), a difference that is not statistically
significant (t = 1.47; p = 0.150) and probably had little impact on hook
performance. A bimodal distribution is indicated in the early
assemblage, suggesting at least two functional types. Turbo hooks are on
the average smaller and less variable than those of pearl-shell (TABLE
3).
Comparison of hook length by shape class reveals no distinct
patterns, and comparison of the three shape-class members with one-way
analysis of variance indicates no significant difference in hook length
(F = 0-757; p = 0.494). Members of Class 12 are the most variable, with
shank lengths ranging from 17.5 to 42.6 mm; this variability could
reflect the larger sample. Class 21 hooks range from 23.3 to 27.9 mm in
length and Class 22 from 18.2 to 29.2 mm.
Hook width was measured at its widest point, with each hook oriented
vertical to an axis running perpendicular to the bend. Hook width is a
second measure of hook size, providing an overlapping but non-equivalent
sample to compare with the specimens measured for length [ILLUSTRATION
FOR FIGURE 9 OMITTED]. As with hook length, the two means are not
significantly different (t = 1.52, p = 0.143). The hook widths have a
unimodal distribution, suggesting a single generalized hook in terms of
width.
As expected, hook length and width are positively correlated (r2 =
0-651; p = [less than]0.001). Two clusters in the regression plot
[ILLUSTRATION FOR FIGURE 10 OMITTED] reflect the bimodal distributions
of hook length. The four residuals, three above the regression line and
one below, could be functionally specialized forms, but this is
speculative on present evidence.
In sum, little temporal change is apparent in hook size or shape
during the roughly 350-year period when fish-hooks are common on
Aitutaki. After the 16th century, hooks decrease in abundance,
confounding assessments of morphological trends. As the materials are
mostly from a single site, the relation of particular functional
characters to environmental parameters can not yet be assessed. A change
in raw materials is seen later in the sequence, with Turbo apparently an
unsatisfactory, or perhaps more costly, substitute for pearl-shell. The
preference for rotating hook forms may have combined with the difficulty
of producing these forms from Turbo, leading to the abandonment of shell
hooks on Aitutaki, and a shift from angling to other fishing methods.
Regional comparisons of functional traits
Previously (Allen 1992b), I suggested that the abundance and
diversity of fish-hook forms found with entry into East Polynesia is
attributable to the increased availability, and superior mechanical
properties, of pearl-shell over common nacreous West Polynesian taxa
like Turbo and Trochus. Certainly few West Polynesian fish-hooks have
been found and the 28 one-piece Manuan hooks (Kirch 1993) are the
largest assemblage available for comparison. These Turbo hooks are
relatively small, varying in length from 13.1 to 30.4 mm. The few
classifiable specimens are of two kinds: Shape Classes 21 and 22, both
forms represented on Aitutaki. The Manu'a specimens indicate that
Turbo fish-hooks have a long history and the related technology
initially developed in West Polynesia.
Relative to other East Polynesian assemblages, the Aitutaki hooks are
notable for the lack of jabbing forms (i.e. Class 11). Class 11 hooks
are not only common elsewhere in East Polynesia, but also in other
southern Cook localities (e.g. Walter 1989). Detailed shape comparisons
are not possible at this time because other assemblages have been
primarily described in terms of the basic rotating versus jabbing
dichotomy.
In-depth regional comparisons of size are also not possible at this
time. Metrical information is in many cases altogether lacking, or
incompletely reported. Moreover, hook size needs to be considered in
relation to raw material and hook shape before functional
interpretations relating to use are possible. In general, the Aitutaki
hooks appear neither exceptionally large nor small relative to other
regional assemblages. The majority fall within the intermediate group of
Kirch & Yen (1982: 239-43), a size category ethnographically used on
Tikopia for tow-line and bottom fishing from a canoe. Relative to
Ma'uke Island hooks (X = 19.7 mm; range: 10-39 mm) (Walter 1989),
those from Aitutaki are larger and more varied (but the latter sample is
also larger). The Aitutaki hooks are similar to the mean size and ranges
of Rapa Nui one-piece bone rotating hooks (X = 30.1 mm; range: 14-73 mm)
(Ayres 1979), and generally consistent with limited metric data for
Marquesan assemblages (Suggs 1961) and means of various Hawaiian
one-piece hooks assemblages (19.3 to 31.3 mm) (Goto 1986: 230-34).
Variability in hook size warrants closer examination in conjunction with
data on the related marine environments and faunal assemblages.
TABLE 4. Hook measurements (mm).
mean N range
[Sigma]
hook length
late pearl-shell 27.3 21 16.7-53.2 9.3
early pearl-shell 32.7 17 20.8-71.6 12.4
Turbo hooks 22.9 4 16.7-29.1 5.1
hook width
early pearl-shell 20.7 17 9.7-33.0 6.9
late pearl-shell 17.8 12 14.2-24.7 3.2
Concluding thoughts
A consideration of the spario-temporal patterning of fish-hook head
morphologies reinforces earlier notions that line lashing devices are
stylistic (selectively neutral), with specific morphologies reflecting
ancestral relationships and patterns of interaction. Although not
appropriate for seriation, the Aitutaki hooks show homologous similarities with early East Polynesian collections from the Marquesan
Islands, and with pene-contemporaneous assemblages from elsewhere in
central East Polynesia, New Zealand, and Rapa Nui. The appearance of a
new head form (Class 613) in three widely separated geographic locales
suggests continued inter-island contact after initial settlement. Class
613 appears on Aitutaki and in the Society Islands by roughly AD 1400,
and in the Hawaiian Islands after AD 1350 (after Green 1971). This
interpretation fits well with emerging evidence both for contact between
these three archipelagos and for post-colonization inter-island voyaging
within the East Polynesia region (e.g. Allen & Johnson in
preparation; Green 1981; 1994; Irwin 1992; Sutton 1987; Walter 1990).
Shank/point ratios have also been investigated as a potential
stylistic character, with inconclusive results. Hooks found in several
central East Polynesia islands have low shank/point ratios, suggesting
that the trait may be ancestral, but also raising the possibility that
it is associated with pearl-shell which is common here. If the latter,
high shank/point ratios in the Hawaiian Islands could reflect the use of
bone, but then high ratios seen in Marquesan pearl-shell hooks remain
difficult to explain. For the moment, the underlying cause of
variability in shank/point ratios remains ambiguous.
Attempts to derive chronology and historical associations from other
features of hook morphology have been more problematical. Rolett's
(1993: 42) search for similarities in three roughly contemporaneous
Marquesan assemblages using Suggs' types was forced to a similar
conclusion, albeit on different grounds. Hook shape, barbs and thickness
are all traits that most likely affected hook use, were subject to
selection and thus are inappropriate as temporal markers.
Functional aspects of Polynesian hook morphology are more poorly
understood. In part this stems from our fascination with tracing
migration routes and homelands, but there are also methodological
issues. Whereas lithic analysts have profitably used tool wear as an
empirical marker of function (e.g. Dunnell 1978b; Meltzer 1981), shell
hooks from tropical Pacific Islands are often too degraded for use-wear
to be reliably identified. Functional studies would, however, greatly
benefit from research on fish behaviours relative to hook morphology,
mechanical properties of raw materials and engineering aspects of hook
performance. Spatio-temporal data from archaeological assemblages also
is critically needed to identify regular and predictable relationships
between marine prey, habitats and hook morphologies.
In this paper, I have sought to offer an integrated and explicit
theoretical framework for examining variability in Polynesian
fish-hooks, one which might clarify the origins, spatio-temporal
distributions and cultural relevance of fish-hook characteristics. While
the model presented here cannot be fully evaluated at this time, my hope
is that I have demonstrated the potential of the approach. My second
goal was to bring together a diverse and somewhat scattered body of
regional evidence on the use and prehistoric distribution of one-piece
fish-hooks. In examining previous studies, I have attempted to evaluate
the stylistic and functional potential of various hook attributes,
loosely based on previous demonstrations of historical patterning,
traditional cultural practices and potential mechanical relationships.
We are at a juncture where it will be quite profitable to return to old
collections with new questions and reconsider variability in Polynesian
fishhooks in both methodological and substantive terms.
TABLE 1. Stylistic classification of fish-hook head morphology.
I. SHAPE OF PROXIMAL END (as viewed in profile)
1. straight: a linear or flat surface with no additional
modifications
2. concaved: a rounded arc with a curve into a flat surface; the
concavity is not necessarily symmetrical
3. pointed: the proximal end comes to an apex or peak; differs from
angled in that the point is centered on the proximal end; point may be
rounded or sharp
4. notched: a flat surface cut by grooves or angled concavities
5. angled: a linear or flat surface that slopes distally towards
either the outer or inner edge, forming an offset point
6. stepped: a 90 [degrees] or greater shelf or step, with the step
being perpendicular to the main axis of the shank
II. SHAPE OF INNER EDGE (as viewed in profile)
1. straight: a linear or flat surface with no additional
modifications; very slightly excurved edges are also considered straight
2. reduced/stepped: inner edge thinned towards the proximal end of
the hook, varying from slightly to more sharply reduced (as in a 90
[degrees] step)(a)
3. notched: an acute to obtuse concavity cut into the shank, often
but not necessarily at an oblique angle; although the intersection of
this edge and the proximal end may appear to form a
'projection' or knob, it does not extend beyond the shank
proper
4. protrudent: proximal end of the edge projects outward beyond the
edge of the shank proper; the protrudent may extend out from the shank
at a sharp right angle or may be formed by a gentle outward flaring(b)
III. SHAPE OF OUTER EDGE (as viewed in profile) 1. concaved: a
rounded arc with a curve into a flat surface
2. notched: an acute to obtuse concavity cut into the shank, often
but not necessarily at an oblique angle; although the intersection of
this edge and the proximal end may appear to form a projection or knob,
it does not extend beyond the shank proper
3. protrudent: proximal end of the edge projects outward beyond the
edge of the shank proper; the protrudent may extend out from the shank
at a sharp right angle or may be formed by a gentle outward flaring(b)
4. straight: a linear or flat surface with no additional
modifications
a The classification currently makes no distinction between these two
morphological variants, which on present evidence do not appear to be
chronologically distinct from one another.
b Eventually it may be useful to separate angled protrudent edges
from curved, flaring ones but in the present small assemblage the two
forms have comparable temporal distributions and are associated with
similar modes in the other dimensions.
TABLE 3. Functional fish-hook shape classification.
I. ALIGNMENT OF SHANK
1. straight or excurved: shank parallel to or curved away from main
axis of hook
2. incurved: shank curved towards from main axis of hook
II. ALIGNMENT OF POINT
1. straight or excurved: point parallel, nearly parallel, or curved
away from main axis of hook
2. incurred: point curved towards main axis of hook, sometimes
strongly so
Acknowledgements. I thank Robert Dunnell, Terry Hunt and Yosi Sinoto
for comments and discussions, Roger Green and Helen Reeves Lawrence for
their thoughtful reviews and Brad Evans for the illustrations. Jadelyn
Moniz and Michael Graves were especially helpful in refining the
stylistic classification in the course of applying it to Hawaiian
assemblages. The Aitutaki research was supported by the hospitality of
the Cook Island people, National Science Foundation (BSN-8822768 to M.S.
Allen and BSR-8607535 to David Steadman), Wenner-Gren Foundation for
Anthropological Research (Grant 5079), a University of Washington W.W.
Stout Fellowship, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, and the
field assistance of Lisa Nagaoka, Sue Schubel and Algernon Allen.
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