Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
Pearthree and Di Piazza (2003) examined archaeological items (fish hooks, basalt flakes,
basalt cores, chisels, and abraders) from Manra and compared them with similar items from
the Pacific. They concluded that the Manra items were similar to those found in eastern
Polynesia. Charcoal samples from ancient fires were carbon dated to the 12 th and 13 th
century A.D. These finding suggested a period of explosive migration in eastern Polynesia.
Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004) noted that Orona and Manra were examples of Polynesian
colonisation in the 13 th century. The reasons for abandonment were examined by Di Piazza
and Pearthree (2004). They speculate that initially the population flourished with virgin
resources. As local resources were depleted, resources were obtained from adjacent islands.
Once these resources were depleted, coupled with the effects of drought, settlements had to
be abandoned.
MCKEAN
In 1924, the Whitney South Sea Expedition found ancient stone structures on Orona (Hull),
Abariringa (Canton) as well as Manra (Sydney), but none on other Phoenix Islands
(MacGregor n.d.).
Bryan (1934) reported that there was no sign of human occupation of McKean.
On the western side of the island was the ruin of a large building with a coral slab wall 2.1 m
(7 ft) high (Hydrographic Office 1940; Hydrographer of the Navy 1969).
Bryan (1941 and 1942) reported that there was a trough-like depression on the north side of
McKean. It was about 146 m (160 yards) long with steep sides. It appeared to have been dug
and faced by human hands. No insights were provided regarding the origin of this walled
depression.
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