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

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HUMAN SETTLEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE<br />

AT BARBERS POINT, OIAHU<br />

Bertell D. Davis<br />

Archaeological Research Center <strong>Hawaii</strong>, Inc.<br />

Honolulu, <strong>Hawaii</strong> 96765<br />

and<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Anthropology<br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hawaii</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>Manoa</strong><br />

Honolulu, <strong>Hawaii</strong> 96822<br />

ABSTRACT<br />

Recent studies <strong>at</strong> Barbers Point, O'ahu, have demon-<br />

str<strong>at</strong>ed an unparalleled potential there for coordin<strong>at</strong>ed<br />

research on human settlement and environmental change<br />

in leeward "marginal" regions <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Hawaii</strong>an Islands.<br />

The following paper presents some <strong>of</strong> the more signif-<br />

icant results: the available d<strong>at</strong>a are summarized, and<br />

several interpretive models from different sources are<br />

<strong>of</strong>fered.<br />

The current level <strong>of</strong> knowledge is tantalizing to say the<br />

least. Clearly our principal limit<strong>at</strong>ion is one <strong>of</strong> sampling. It<br />

is expected, however, th<strong>at</strong> with the definition <strong>of</strong> specific<br />

research goals this limit<strong>at</strong>ion can be overcome.<br />

Preliminary environmental impact studies <strong>at</strong> Barbers Point,<br />

O1ahu, have demonstr<strong>at</strong>ed the unique potential there for signif-<br />

icant contributions to the cultural and n<strong>at</strong>ural history <strong>of</strong> the<br />

<strong>Hawaii</strong>an Islands. Several areas <strong>of</strong> investig<strong>at</strong>ion are <strong>of</strong> partic-<br />

ular interest: the survival <strong>of</strong> rare and endangered species, the<br />

extinction <strong>of</strong> endemic <strong>Hawaii</strong>an avifauna, the structure <strong>of</strong> the<br />

leeward lowland forest prior to man's arrival in the islands, and<br />

the n<strong>at</strong>ive <strong>Hawaii</strong>an settlement <strong>of</strong> a presumed "marginal" environ-<br />

ment. To better accomod<strong>at</strong>e such diverse but parallel concerns,<br />

continuing research is coordin<strong>at</strong>ed in phases, beginning with<br />

intensive survey <strong>of</strong> the terrestrial biology and archaeological<br />

resources. Fieldwork for this Phase I study was completed over<br />

the past 12 months, and a detailed report is now in prepar<strong>at</strong>ion<br />

(Davis & Griffin <strong>1978</strong>).<br />

The following paper summarizes the findings <strong>of</strong> the current<br />

study. Using d<strong>at</strong>a collected from the cultural survey, together<br />

with th<strong>at</strong> recovered from excav<strong>at</strong>ion by the Bishop Museum (Sinoto<br />

1976, <strong>1978</strong>), I suggest a tent<strong>at</strong>ive model for interpreting the<br />

archaeological remains <strong>at</strong> Barbers Point. The model focuses on<br />

p<strong>at</strong>terns <strong>of</strong> settlement and subsistence, and several altern<strong>at</strong>ives<br />

are considered as testable hypotheses. This paper is <strong>of</strong> course<br />

necessarily quite preliminary. My purpose here is primarily to

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