article

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

Antiquity73 (282) • Published In 1999 • Pages: 801-812

By: Stevenson, Christopher M. (Christopher Moore), Wozniak, Joan S., Haoa, Sonia.

Abstract
This article examines pre-contact Rapa Nui agricultural practices based on three archaeological surveys. Eight types of fields and gardens are identified, with note of the technique of lithic mulching to hold moisture in the soil, necessary in the Pacific dry zone in which the island is located. The authors correlate the thirteenth century rise of elite-managed fields using lithic mulching with the appearance of large religious structures.
Subjects
Geography
Tillage
Dwellings
Grounds
Settlement patterns
Status, role, and prestige
Chronologies and culture sequences
culture
Rapa Nui
HRAF PubDate
2016
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Polynesia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2012
Field Date
1987-1989
Coverage Date
1200–1720
Coverage Place
Easter Island, Valparaíso, Chile
Notes
Christopher M. Stevenson, Joan Wozniak & Sonia Haoa
Includes bibliographical references (p. 811-812)
LCCN
29021740
LCSH
Easter Island