The "Fish" for the Gods

The aim of this paper is to provide an alternative interpretation for the large Rapa Nui stone fishhooks, mangai maea . These nicely carved hooks have been interpreted as clan or status symbols, as well as ordinary fishhooks (Chauvet 1935:32-34, Martinsson-Wallin 1994:125126, Metraux 1940:363, Heyerdahl 1961 :415-426, Lee 1992). We here examine this specific type of fishhook in the light of large fishhooks found on other islands in Polynesia. There is clear evidence that oversized fishhooks were used symbolically by leading chiefs for a very specific kind of "fishing" that was dedicated to the war god at certain ceremonial structures. In this case, the "fish" consisted of human sacrifices, suspended from a tree by a large fishhook inserted in the victim's mouth. These types of human sacrifices were called "fish". The relationship between large fishhooks and human sacrifice is discussed in this article.</p

The story of the only (?) megalith grave on Gotland Island

In this paper, we discuss the easternmost material expression of the Funnel Beaker Culture – a megalith grave on the west coast of Gotland Island in the Baltic Sea. The people who built and used the megalith brought the Neolithic lifestyle to Gotland. The biography of this monument includes two excavations, of which we participated in the latest in 1984. Our osteological analysis confirms that some thirty individuals of both sexes and various ages were buried there. The structure of the monument is that of a rectangular dolmen. This paper discusses the discovery of this specific site, and explores the existence of this type of monument in a Gotland context. Furthermore, is this really the only megalith on Gotland, or are more of these structures yet to be recognised? Finally, one may ask if the Neolithic way of life really was successful on Gotland.V članku analiziramo najbolj vzhoden materialni izraz kulture lijakastih čaš – megalitski grob na zahodni obali Gotlanda na Baltskem morju. Ljudje, ki so ga zgradili, so na Gotland prinesli neolitski način življenja. V biografijo spomenika sta vključeni dve izkopavanji. Pri zadnjih leta 1984 smo sodelovali. Naše osteološke analize so potrdile, da je bilo tam pokopanih približno trideset oseb obeh spolov in različnih starosti. Spomenik je oblikovan kot pravokotni dolmen. Predstavljamo odkritje tega posebnega mesta, kjer smo raziskali nastanek tega spomenika na Gotlandu. Vprašamo se, ali je to edini megalit in ali jih je mogoče na Gotlandu prepoznati več? Lahko se vprašamo tudi, ali je bil neolitski način življenja na Gotlandu uspešen

Thor Heyerdahl 1914-2002

Sr. "Kon-Tiki" passed away quietly in his home in Italy on the 18th of April 2002, at the age of 87. As one of the most famous Norwegians ever, he accomplished many different things in his life, but his name will always be intimately tied to the Kon-Tiki voyage and the archaeological investigations on Rapa Nui and East Polynesia. He was awarded a state funeral in Oslo on the 26th of April 2002, but his final resting place is on the family estate at Colla Micheri in Italy.</p

In search of rituals and group dynamics: correspondence analyses of Neolithic grave fields on the Island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea

In this paper, I analyze two Neolithic grave fields on Gotland (at Visby and Västerbjers) belonging to the Scandinavian Pitted Ware culture. The burials at the two sites are of males and females from all different age groups. They were buried with some variability concerning grave rituals and grave gifts. The aim of this paper is therefore to make a relational multi-varied Correspondence Analysis of the individuals and their artefact variations to enable new contextual interpretations.V članku analiziramo dve neolitski grobišči na Gotlandu (Visby in Västerbjers), ki pripadata skandinavski kulturi jamičaste keramike. V grobiščih so pokopani moški in ženske vseh starosti. Opazne so razlike v pokopnih ritualih in grobnih pridatkih. S pomočjo multivariantne korespondenčne analize posameznih pokopov in sprememb v artefaktnih zbirih predstavljamo novo kontekstualno interpretacijo

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

The Teaching Principal: An Untenable Position or a Promising Model?

This paper reports on an interpretive study that examined the role of the teaching principal, particularly as it relates to principals’ moral and legal requirement to work as instructional leaders for student learning. A teaching principal is defined as a principal who has a “double load” or dual roles in teaching and administration (Clarke &amp; Stevens, 2009). In this study, we explored the constitution and effects of this role on individuals and leadership practices of 12 rural teaching principals in Alberta and Manitoba. Findings reflect the need to develop policies that sustain the smaller schools which depend upon administrators capable of thriving in this dual role. Additionally, the way in which teaching principals practice as instructional leaders promises to enrich the literature on instructional leadership. Specifically, the practices that emerge through the teaching principalship are a unique adaptation of existing conceptualizations that offer considerable advantages over those that presuppose a full-time administrative appointment. Cet article rend compte d’une étude interprétative portant sur le rôle du directeur enseignant, notamment par rapport à l’exigence morale et juridique qu’ont les directeurs de travailler comme leaders pédagogiques. Un directeur enseignant en est un qui a une « double charge », qui joue deux rôles, un en enseignement et un en administration (Clarke &amp; Stevens, 2009). Dans cette étude, nous avons exploré la création et les effets de ce rôle sur les individus et sur les pratiques de leadership de douze directeurs enseignants en milieu rural en Alberta et au Manitoba. Les résultats reflètent la nécessité de développer des politiques qui appuient les plus petites écoles qui dépendent d’administrateurs en mesure de prospérer dans le contexte de ce double rôle. De plus, les pratiques qu’emploient les directeurs enseignants dans leur capacité de leaders pédagogiques promettent d’enrichir la littérature sur le leadership pédagogique. Plus spécifiquement, les pratiques qui ressortent des pratiques des directeurs enseignants constituent une adaptation unique des conceptualisations existantes, une qui offre un nombre considérable d’avantages par rapport à celles qui présupposent un poste administratif à temps plein

Teaching Principals in Small Rural Schools: “My Cup Overfloweth”

This paper presents the results of interviews with 12 Manitoba and Alberta rural teaching principals regarding their leadership practices in small schools. The overwhelming theme mentioned by these teaching principals was the joy and sense of purpose they found in the relationships they cultivated with children, staff, and community members because of the ‘advantages’ they had working in small schools. The paper details the small schools context within which teaching principals are working in these two provinces and outlines the role of reciprocal relationality that is central to their leadership efforts in small rural schools.Cet article présente les résultats d’entrevues auprès de douze directeurs-enseignants d’écoles rurales au Manitoba et en Alberta portant sur les pratiques de leadership dans les petites écoles. Le thème dominant qui en est ressorti est celui de la joie et le sentiment d’un but à atteindre qu’ils retiraient des rapports entretenus avec les enfants, le personnel et les membres de la communauté et qu’ils associaient aux « bienfaits » de travailler dans une petite école. L’article décrit en détail le contexte scolaire dans lequel travaillent les directeurs-enseignants dans ces deux provinces, et dresse un portrait du rôle de la relationnalité réciproque qui est au centre de leurs efforts comme dirigeants de petites écoles en milieu rural.