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Bayesian modeling and chronological precision for Polynesian settlement of Tonga
David Burley1, Kevan Edinborough2, Marshall Weisler3
1Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Plos One
|March 24, 2015
Summary
This study redevelops the chronology of Polynesian settlement in Tonga using Bayesian models and new dating methods. It reveals a rapid initial Lapita colonization phase and a swift transition to ancestral Polynesian society.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Pacific History
Background:
- Polynesian settlement and expansion are foundational to global history.
- Precise chronologies are crucial for archaeological interpretation.
- Recent dating protocols have challenged existing Tongan chronologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-examine and redevelop the chronology of Polynesian settlement in Tonga.
- To apply Bayesian models to existing and new radiocarbon and U/Th dates.
- To precisely track population migration from initial Lapita occupation.
Main Methods:
- Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon dates.
- Incorporation of short-lived wood charcoal dates from archived samples.
- High-precision Uranium-Thorium (U/Th) dating of coral artifacts.
Main Results:
- A generation-level precise chronology for Polynesian settlement in Tonga was established.
- Population migration was tracked from Tongatapu through central and northern island groups.
- The initial Lapita phase was found to be exceptionally short.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a refined chronology for early Polynesian settlement in Tonga.
- A rapid transition from Lapita to ancestral Polynesian society was observed.
- This revised chronology impacts our understanding of Polynesian origins and expansion.
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