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Prehistoric agricultural production on Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Christopher M. Stevenson ,
Joan Wozniak  and
Sonia Haoa
Christopher M. Stevenson
Affiliation:
ASC Group Inc., 4620 Indianola Avenue, Columbus OH 43214, USA. obsidlab@aol.com
Joan Wozniak
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403, USA. joanwoz@yahoo.com
Sonia Haoa
Affiliation:
Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Chile. furceley@interactiva.cl
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Abstract

A survey of the Easter Island landscape has resulted in the recognition of numerous lithic mulched household gardens and fields. It is proposed that lithic mulching was a technological innovation introduced to enhance the moisture retention capacity of the excessively drained island soils, and was an innovation incorporated into élite managed field systems which arose in the early 15th century to meet the demands for surplus production.

Keywords

Easter Islandagriculturefield-systemssocial hierarchyPolynesiaenvironment
Type
Papers
Information
Antiquity , Volume 73 , Issue 282 , December 1999 , pp. 801 - 812
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 1999

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