TITLE: |
Modeling the colonization of Western Micronesia : a review of recent evidence focusing on Palau / Stephen Wickler |
ADDED TITLE: |
Micronesia : visiones desde Europa. |
AUTHOR: |
Wickler, Stephen |
DESCRIPTION: |
pp. 23-31 ; 28 cm. |
NOTES: |
"Current model for tge colonization of western Micronesia (Marianas, Yap and Palau) must be critically assessed in light of recent proxy evidence for human settlement from paleoenvironmental studies which suggest initial colonization significantly earlier that direct archaeological evidence presently documents. |
NOTES: |
Recent paleoenvironmental coring results from the island of Babeldaob in Palau argue for human colonization by 4500 BP based on the presence of pollen from introduced swamp taro (Cyrtosperma chamissones). |
NOTES: |
Savanna indicators and charcoal particles appear in core sediments dated several centuries later. The earliest direct evidence for settlement from archaeological contexts does not appear until about 3400 BP. |
NOTES: |
This gap of approximate one millinnium is likely to reflect the gradual expansion of a small founding population on a large volcanic island where early sites are scarce and difficult to locate. |
NOTES: |
Potential paterns of early settlement are examined including site location and the effects of language transformation on site visibility. |
SUBJECT: |
Archaeological surveys--Palau. |
SUBJECT: |
Austronesian languages. |
SUBJECT: |
Archaeological surveys--Yap. |