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June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

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tempting to suggest th<strong>at</strong> the introduction <strong>of</strong> this adaptable cul-<br />

tigen was an important factor in these developments. However,<br />

evidence to support such an inference has been elusive thus far.<br />

Three altern<strong>at</strong>ive time periods are suggested for the intro-<br />

duction <strong>of</strong> sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o to Hawai' i:<br />

1) With initial settlement ca. 600 to 750 A.D. (Yen 1973:<br />

81), or possibly as early as 300 A.D. (Cordy <strong>1978</strong>: 25).<br />

This would mean th<strong>at</strong> the sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o was involved with<br />

but not the c<strong>at</strong>alyst for the previously mentioned<br />

cul tur a1 developments.<br />

2) At a l<strong>at</strong>er d<strong>at</strong>e, about 1000 A.D. or somewh<strong>at</strong> l<strong>at</strong>er. The<br />

sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o could have precipit<strong>at</strong>ed or been directly<br />

requisite for certain cultural developments (Hommon<br />

1976: 258-269).<br />

3) By a historically unrecorded Spanish vessel in the<br />

1500's (Dixon 1932; Stokes 1932). In this case the<br />

sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o would have been introduced after major<br />

cultural developments had taken place.<br />

There is a paucity <strong>of</strong> both direct and indirect d<strong>at</strong>a relevant<br />

to the prehistoric presence or absence <strong>of</strong> sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o in<br />

Hawai ' i. Only the third possibility noted above is seriously<br />

questioned by present archaeological evidence. We suggest the<br />

following research methods may assist in defining the chronology<br />

<strong>of</strong> sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o introduction and establishment in the <strong>Hawaii</strong>an<br />

horticultural complex, as well as identifyinq the effects this<br />

cultigen<br />

<strong>Hawaii</strong>an<br />

1)<br />

2)<br />

3)<br />

may have had upon the development <strong>of</strong> prehistoric<br />

culture:<br />

The controlled archaeological sampling <strong>of</strong> prehistoric<br />

dryland agr icul tural field systems can be improved.<br />

This would be accomplished in part by obtaining con-<br />

sistent samples along two lines <strong>of</strong> vari<strong>at</strong>ion in an indi-<br />

vidual field system, th<strong>at</strong> is, along the longitudinal<br />

axis and the inland-seaward axis. Such a sampling<br />

procedure, combined with comprehensive absolute d<strong>at</strong>ing,<br />

should result in a complete view <strong>of</strong> the development <strong>of</strong><br />

an agricultural system from its initial stages through<br />

European contact.<br />

Direct evidence is obtainable in the form <strong>of</strong> sweet<br />

pot<strong>at</strong>o macr<strong>of</strong>ossils. Archaeological excav<strong>at</strong>ions could<br />

be concentr<strong>at</strong>ed on those sites, structures, and fe<strong>at</strong>ures<br />

which will most likely contain preserved sweet pot<strong>at</strong>o<br />

remains. In addition, specific field recovery tech-<br />

niques can be developed.<br />

The techniques <strong>of</strong> macr<strong>of</strong>ossil identific<strong>at</strong>ion need<br />

refinement, and compar<strong>at</strong>ive collections and keys should<br />

be developed.

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