Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
Bryan (1934) reported that no prehistoric remains were found on Rawaki (Phoenix) (see also
Bryan 1941 and 1942).
Garnett (1983a) noted that there were no prehistoric remains or artefacts from Rawaki
(Phoenix). Rawaki (Phoenix) did not appear to have been visited by prehistoric voyagers.
Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004) surveyed Rawai (Phoenix) for prehistoric structures. During
their survey, one possible agricultural pit, one small shelter, a well and a stone monument
were identified. Descriptions of each were provided. They noted that the stone monument
examined was probably left by guano collectors in the late 19 th century.
B. DISCOVERY
During the first voyage of Alvaro de Mendana in 1568, his two ships that passed between the
Phoenix and Tokelau Islands (Maude 1959). This voyage almost seemed to be designed to
avoid any contact with Polynesian islands.
In 1791 maps of the Pacific, there was a large blank area in the middle of the Pacific where
the Phoenix Islands were located (Boggs 1938).
In 1794, Captain Barber on the Arthur passed through the northern islands of the Phoenix
Islands (Stackpole 1935). Arthur Island was Arrowsmith’s 1798 chart.
Townsend (1935) summarized whale takes based on American whaleship logbooks for the
period 1800 to 1870 (see also Boggs 1938). The Phoenix Islands were at the center of these
whale landings. American whalers probably discovered or knew of many of the Phoenix
Islands in the early 1800s.
Maude (1952 and 1968) noted that the question of actual discovery was not well documented.
Maude (1952 and 1968) concluded that the Phoenix Islands were most certainly discovered
by British or American whaling ships between 1820 and 1830.
In 1828, plans were made in the U.S. to send an expedition to the Pacific (Skaggs 1994).
Information was collected from whalers and their maps from the New England area. The
initial expedition was cancelled by President Jackson. The list of islands collected from
American whalers was published in 1835.
In 1836, the U.S. Congress appropriated USD 300,000 to fund the “United States Exploring
Expedition” in the Pacific (Skaggs 1994). This was popularly known as the Wilkes
Expedition after Lt. Wilkes who was placed in charge of the expedition. The expedition
began in 1838 with a six ship squadron. After 4 years, two of the six ships returned. The
total cost was almost USD 1 million. Detailed information was obtained on about 280 Pacific
islands (including the Phoenix Islands) (see Wilkes 1845a and b).
American activities in the Central Pacific (including the Phoenix Islands) from 1790 to 1870
were documented by Ward (1966, 1967a to g). The documentation was primarily in the form
of newspaper articles from that period.
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