Solomon Islands And Vanuatu

Question 1

Solomon Islands Living

Answer 1

1. Kite fishing
   1.1 Needle fish (Live on top of water and swim along it)

Question 2

Solomon Islands Prehistory

Answer 2

1. Pleistocene-aged site on Buka, north of Bougainville (Can swim between two)
2. Papuan speakers PROBABLY explored all of the islands to the south, but there is no archaeological evidence for this
   2.1 Because volcanic, sinking so possible that these sites and evidence have sunk below sea line
   2.2 Or because dense vegetation haven’t found it yet and could be in cave

Question 3

Buka Sequence

Answer 3

1. Pleistocene occupation at 29 KYA
2. Lapita at 3200 BP
   2.1 Like the transition from the Bismarcks
   2.1.1 Contraction of social sphere (Pottery gets simpler and more regional specific)
   2.1.2 New trajectories
3. Only evidence from 1992

Question 4

Recent finds (after 2000)

Answer 4

1. Lapita sherds from New Georgia (Under the water 1.5 m)
2. Roviana Lagoon
   2.1 Perhaps Lapita stilt houses
   2.2 Late Lapita, post Lapita ceramics
3. Not a lot of push to snorkel and survey islands

Question 5

Skull shrines and Fortifications

Answer 5

1. Platforms of stone and coral
   1.1 Scrub limestone for long time to create crypt for skulls
2. Coral or stone containers contain skulls and shell jewelry
   2.1 Revered as cemetery for deceased even though just heads
   2.2 Sacred ground where spirit of ancestors live
3. Skulls are deceased chief, used for offerings
   3.1 Don’t add new skulls anymore just keep maintenance of skulls there to keep them protected
4. Date to 700 BP
5. Link back to Lapita reverence for skulls
   5.1 Maintain spirit of ancestors and keep them in land they came from
   5.2 Cultural tradition

Question 6

General Sequence for the Solomon Islands

Answer 6

1. Pleistocene exploration?
   1.1 Not enough survey to prove that
2. Lapita ca. 3500-1000 BP
3. Austronesian and Papuan language speakers
4. Post Lapita — Settlements on ridgecrests

Question 7

Headhunting

Answer 7

1. From the 16th-19th century, New Georgia islanders raided other villages
   1.1 Not anywhere else of before
   1.2 Post colonial traumatic response that was culturally enforced as response to new people changing land
2. Captured skulls used in rituals for house and chief’s installation
   2.1 Giving self more power by having enemies head

Question 8

Solomon Islands Ornaments: Kapkap

Answer 8

1. Worn of forehead (Sacred spot; where spiritual power is)
2. Vary island to island (Who genetically you are and where you came from)
3. Indicative of status
4. Lasted a longer time than other traditions
5. Light shell disk and dark part of sea turtle shell very carefully cut to create like a lattice of shell (Time consuming and intricate)

Question 9

Solomon Island Ornaments

Answer 9

1. Also septic piercing of two people back to back of ancestors face hanging off nose
2. Around neck a necklace of dog canines
   2.1 Lots of dogs to make this; Ate dogs so probably from ones they ate; Make great ornaments because enamel thick so last a long time and clink together making nice sound

Question 10

Santa Cruz Group

Answer 10

1. Between Solomons and Vanuatu
   1.1 Nendo excavated in 1970s (Found Lapita pottery)
   1.2 Resurveyed 2012 (Found more pieces)
2. End of Near Oceania
   2.1 Duff Islands, Reef Islands, Nendo, Tikopia, Anuta, Fatutaka
3. Styles of ceramics here found from other places and go to Tonga (Why important)

Question 11

Ceramics on Nendo

Answer 11

1. Nendo Islands
   1.1 3200 BP - Lapita
   1.2 2100 BP - Plain ceramics
   1.3 800 BP - Imported ceramics from Vanuatu
   1.4 Also found in Tonga!

Question 12

Vanuatu

Answer 12

1. Name used to be called New Heberties (in Scotland)
   1.1 Europeans named everything after themselves
2. Regained independence named themselves
   2.1 Vanua = land
   2.2 Tu = root (“Root of the land”)
3. Under Solomon Islands
4. Espirtu Santu, Efate, many other islands
5. Active volcanos
   5.1 Tanna island has volcano that people go to see

Question 13

Modern Cultures of Vanuatu

Answer 13

1. Speak Bislama, a pidgin English
   1.1 Bislama like french word beech lamair (spellcheck) which means sea cucumber
   1.2 Forced to dry them out when taken to another place and when returned had broken English language which they named after sea cucumbers they dried
   1.3 What the children learn in school
2. 105 other Austronesian languages
3. Tribal groups
4. Some inherited titles in Central Vanuatu societies
5. Others are “Graded Societies”
   5.1 Age cohorts of boys/men
   5.2 Work your way up status grades through deeds
   5.3 Exchange of pig tusks

Question 14

Money in Vanuatu Society: Pig Tusks

Answer 14

1. Symbol of pig tusk spray painted on different objects
2. Raise pigs till incisor curls back
   2.1 When kill take tusk and become traditional wealth that are used in different exchanges and traditional events (Need a lot saved up to be able to have enough for these events)
3. Only need money for salt (for foods), soap (to wash kids clothing for school), and kerosine (to light lamps)
4. Pay medical bills and school fees with food they grow and pig tusks and mats they make for custom ceremonies
   4.1 These items worth greater than having actual money
   4.2 Pigs are greatest money worth
   4.2.1 More curls, more sacred; To grow curled tusk, need to get rid of other teeth and that tooth goes into pigs cheek; “Money with legs”; Spend years nurturing family pigs; Get 10 pigs per daughter for bride price; Need pigs in life to reach afterlife

Question 15

Religion

Answer 15

1. Focus on fertility and success of yam harvest
2. Local yam gods (but also Christian)
   2.1 Honor the yam gods but also combine Christian ideologies like going to Church on Sunday
3. Land diving on Pentecost island
   3.1 Graduation of boys to the men’s group
   3.2 Display, ritual to ensure harvest
4. Yam festivals (pig exchange, kava drinking)
   4.1 Getting ready all year for these festivals

Question 16

Religion: Video of them jumping off structure by vines on ankles (Land Divers) to touch/brush head (most sacred part of body) with earth

Answer 16

1. Traditional ceremony
2. Dates back 15 centuries
3. Believe in world of spirits who want/need land offerings
4. Volunteer to dive (men and children)
5. Snapped vine can lead to injuries
6. Higher the jump, greater the blessing