Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
Other Findings – Bryan (1934) reported that plantation workers had dug up human skulls.
One had been presented to Bishop Museum.
On the extreme west end of the lagoon was a large artificial mound (Bryan 1934). The
mound contained bird and turtle bones. Bryan (1934) reported that a shell adze made from
Tridacna shell and baslt adz had been found in the mound. Emory (1939) noted that the shell
adze was found by Bryan during a 1924 visit to Orona (Hull). The adze was brought back by
Bryan.
Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004) reported that they excavated two trenches and a square pit.
Findings from these sites were poorly preserved.
Origin of Inhabitants - MacGregor (1934) reported that 31 stone structures were found on
Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) in three days. These structures were closely related to
maraes and house foundations in Polynesia but have not been recorded in uninhabited islands
of western Polynesia.
Referring to the shell adze found on Orona (Hull), Bryan (1934) noted that shell adze was
common to western Polynesia.
According to Emory (1939), structures on Orona (Hull) were not similar to marae structures
in Tahiti or Tuamotus. Emory (1939) speculated that people other than Tahitians or
Tuamotuans settled for a time on both Manra (Sydney) and Orona (Hull). Emory (1939)
noted that these structures were strongly reminiscent of Caroline Islands structures. Sharp
(1956) noted that in the early 1800’s, there was no knowledge of the Marshall Islands in the
Gilbert Islands and that Marshallese were not visited by people outside the Marshall Islands.
21