Pohnpei Petroglyphs, Communication and Miscommunication

Rainbird, Paul (2008-01-24). "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: “Settlement, Oral History and Archaeology in Micronesia: Pohnpei Petroglyphs, Communication and Miscommunication” by Paul Rainbird focuses on the petroglyphs found on Pohnpei Island, part of the Federated States of Micronesia. The study documents the largest rock art site in the northwest tropical Pacific with over 700 motifs. These motifs hold various interpretations within the local community, contributing to a multiplicity of meanings that incorporate themes of communication and miscommunication across cultures and history.

The article explores the idea that foreign influence and inter-island interactions significantly shaped Pohnpei’s cultural heritage, even before European contact. While examining petroglyphs, the site’s motifs are seen as a part of a broader landscape and seascape context, containing symbols that might connect to broader western Pacific links. This analysis contrasts older ethnographic accounts and suggests potential historical ruptures in community knowledge prior to European influence. Rainbird discusses how historical contact, both local and foreign, created diversity in the oral history of the site, while maintaining certain common themes. This complexity is often attributed to the historical secrecy and multiple interpretations within Pohnpei’s oral traditions. The presence of motifs like fish, swords or weaving pegs, human figures, and boats are all elements contributing to the site’s historical narrative.

The paper recognizes that interpretations of the site have varied over time, with potential origins ranging from indigenous ancestors to people from other regions such as Spaniards and Filipinos. It is acknowledged that these variations may stem from the community’s history of welcoming outsiders, potentially leading to disruptions in their historical narrative. Rainbird concludes by highlighting the challenges in relying on late nineteenth and early twentieth-century ethnographies to understand pre-colonial history due to major ruptures caused by foreign contact.