The Marae Temple Grounds in the Society Islands, French Polynesia:

In this paper we will present some of our resent research on ceremonial sites, marae, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. These islands are located in the central East Polynesia Ocean, and are divided into the Windward and the Leeward Islands. Our paper considers the structural organization of habitation and ceremonial sites in the Society Islands (cf. Kirch 1996; Ladefoged 1998), as well as relations between marae and the surrounding landscape.</p

Matrix GLA Protein Function in Human Trabecular Meshwork Cells: Inhibition of BMP2-Induced Calcification Process

The matrix GLA (MGP) gene has been found to be among the 10 most highly expressed genes in the human trabecular meshwork (TM), and its expression is affected by conditions associated with glaucoma. Because MGP protein has been shown to play a key role in inhibiting calcification in cartilage and arterial vessels, MGP’s function in human TM was investigated

Processing and Transport of Matrix γ-Carboxyglutamic Acid Protein and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in Cultured Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: EVIDENCE FOR AN UPTAKE MECHANISM FOR SERUM FETUIN

Matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein (MGP) is a member of the vitamin K-dependent protein family with unique structural and physical properties. MGP has been shown to be an inhibitor of arterial wall and cartilage calcification. One inhibitory mechanism is thought to be binding of bone morphogenetic protein-2. Binding has been shown to be dependent upon the vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylation modification of MGP. Since MGP is an insoluble matrix protein, this work has focused on intracellular processing and transport of MGP to become an extracellular binding protein for bone morphogenetic protein-2. Human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were infected with an adenovirus carrying the MGP construct, which produced non-gamma-carboxylated MGP and fully gamma-carboxylated MGP. Both forms of MGP were found in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions obtained from the cells by differential centrifugation. The crude microsomal fraction was shown to contain an additional, more acidic Ser-phosphorylated form of MGP believed to be the product of Golgi casein kinase. The data suggest that phosphorylation of MGP dictates different transport routes for MGP in VSMCs. A proteomic approach failed to identify a larger soluble precursor of MGP or an intracellular carrier protein for MGP. Evidence is presented for a receptor-mediated uptake mechanism for fetuin by cultured human VSMCs. Fetuin, shown by mass spectrometry not to contain MGP, was found to be recognized by anti-MGP antibodies. Fetuin uptake and secretion by proliferating and differentiating cells at sites of calcification in the arterial wall may represent an additional protective mechanism against arterial calcification

Dating Ritual Structures in Maeva

THE CLASSIC MARAE OF THE LEEWARD ISLANDS are impressive structures, their huge ahu platforms built of coral and limestone slabs. Located at protruding points along the coast, and sometime opposite the passage in the reef, they are the first things that a visitor sees when sailing into port. And, these great temples were built to be seen. Possibly the most important, but definitely the most famous of these marae, is that of Taputapuatea</p

Historical Records and Archaeological Excavations of Two "National" Marae Complexes

The present work ha been carried out within the framework of the project 'Local Development and Regional Interaction" which i a joint project between Dr. Yosihiko H. Sinoto of the B. P. Bishop Museum and Dr. Paul Wallin of the Institute for Pacific Archaeology and Cultural History, (Kon-Tiki Museum). The aim of this project is to investigate habitation sites and ceremonial structure at the western end of the village at the base of the Mata'ire'a Hill and on the Mata'ire'a Hill itself. During the last of two field sessions in 2003 we were able to test-excavate the two most important temple on Huahine (according to oral traditions): marae Mata'ire'a Rahi on the ummit of Mata'ire'a Hill and marae Manunu on the islet Ovarei opposite Maeva village.</p

Time and Temples : Chronology of Marae Structuresin the Society Islands

In this paper we give an overview of the chronological evidence from four field seasons of excavating marae sites on Huahine, in the Leeward group of the Society Islands. We also briefly discuss our findings in light of earlier work, mainly done on the islands of the Windward group. Since the beginning of scientific research in Polynesia it has been assumed that the Society Islands marae complex developed early. This may not be the case, and it is possible that these temple sites did not play an important part in Society Islands religious practices or socio-political structure until after AD 1500

Time and Temples : Chronology of Marae Structuresin the Society Islands

In this paper we give an overview of the chronological evidence from four field seasons of excavating marae sites on Huahine, in the Leeward group of the Society Islands. We also briefly discuss our findings in light of earlier work, mainly done on the islands of the Windward group. Since the beginning of scientific research in Polynesia it has been assumed that the Society Islands marae complex developed early. This may not be the case, and it is possible that these temple sites did not play an important part in Society Islands religious practices or socio-political structure until after AD 1500

The place of the land and the seat of the ancestors : Temporal and geographical emergence of the classic East Polynesian marae complex

Polynesian ritual structures emerged based upon archaeological data. Here we would like to give a first outline: 1. During the formative period of Polynesian culture one or several, as of yet, undefined ritual site(s) or structure(s) existed. It could be associated with the sleeping-house (Green 1998; Kirch 2000b) or possible be a form of oven (Carson 2002; Green and Davidson 1969; Green and Davidson 1974; Solsvik n.d.; Walter 1990; Yamaguchi 2000). 2. During the period up to AD 1400 there existed different ritual spaces on different island groups in East Polynesia. 3. The classic marae design developed on Easter Island or another Island in southeastern Polynesia between AD 1200 and AD 1300. 4.Marae complexes in the Society, Tuamotuan and Cook island groups probably originate from south-eastern Polynesia. 5. The classic West Polynesian malae complexes could be a development of the marae structures of East Polynesia, since no 14C date from such a structure predate AD 1400. However, this is a question for future research, since so little is known archaeologically of these structures. Our research described above took as its starting point our own experiences of doing archaeology on Easter Island and of making sense of the information produced by three generations of archaeologists working there. This review of research on Polynesian ritual spaces, with focus on the eastern region, strongly suggests that the classic marae-ahu complex was developed on Easter Island. If this is correct archaeologists will in the future not only need to unravel the temporal aspects of these structures, but have to pay equal attention to the various cultural processes that produced the homogeneity in ritual architecture documented by early European travelers to this area.Identity Matters: Movement and Plac