Dettlement, Oral History and Archaeology in Micronesia] Pohnpei Petroglyphs, Communication and Miscommunication

Rainbird, Paul (2008-01-24). "Dettlement, Oral History and Archaeology in Micronesia] Pohnpei Petroglyphs, Communication and Miscommunication". Bulletin of the Indo-pacific Prehistory Association. 22 (0): 141–146. doi:10.7152/bippa.v22i0.11814. ISSN 0156-1316 1835-1794, 0156-1316 .

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Abstract: “Dettlement, Oral History and Archaeology in Micronesia] Pohnpei Petroglyphs, Communication and Miscommunication” by Paul Rainbird examines the historical and cultural significance of petroglyphs on the island of Pohnpei. It explores their varied local interpretations and links to broader western Pacific contexts. The study highlights inconsistencies in local historical understanding and suggests possible disruptions in community history due to foreign influence.

The paper discusses the impact of European colonization, notably the introduction of new languages and knowledge systems that significantly altered the historical consciousness of the Pohnpeian community. This has resulted in multiple contemporary interpretations of the petroglyphs, which are influenced by a history of traditional openness to foreign visitors. The late nineteenth and early twentieth-century ethnographies, based on local information post-colonial disruption, offer ambiguous accounts of the pre-colonial past.

The article concludes by acknowledging the challenges of preserving Pohnpei’s cultural heritage, as demonstrated by the diverse interpretations of the petroglyph site, and the asymmetrical effects of foreign interactions on local traditions.

Extra details:

MAG: 2319039416
OpenAlex: W2319039416
CorpusID: 163640690