Book

Ethnology of Easter Island

The MuseumHonolulu, Hawaii • Published In 1940 • Pages: 1 l., vii, [3]-432

By: Métraux, Alfred.

Abstract
Compiled by a member of a 1934-35 Franco-Belgian expedition, this monograph presents both original fieldwork and data from existing sources. Themes include the history, geography, material culture, social life, religion, art, warfare, tales, legends, and pictographic script of Easter Islanders. The author is more interested in reconstructing the past than in describing the contemporary culture of the Christianized natives. By comparing various cultural traits found on Easter Island with those of neighboring Polynesian islands, he concludes that Easter Island is a local Polynesian culture that developed from an archaic and undifferentiated Polynesian civilization.
Subjects
Traditional history
History
Fishing
Fishing gear
Vegetable production
Normal garb
Body alterations
Weapons
Art
Chief executive
Religious beliefs
culture
Rapa Nui
HRAF PubDate
2016
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Polynesia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Robert Lee ; 1961
Field Date
1934-1935
Coverage Date
1722-1936
Coverage Place
Easter Island, Valparaíso, Chile
Notes
Alfred Métraux
Includes bibliographical references (p. 421-429)
LCCN
40029585
LCSH
Ethnology--Easter Island
Rapanui language--Texts