Time and Temples : Chronology of Marae Structuresin the Society Islands

Abstract

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