From the valley to the shore: A hypothesis of the spatial evolution of ceremonial centres on Tahiti and Ra‘iatea, Society Islands

A spatial shift in ceremonial centres from inland to coastal locations occurred on Tahiti and Ra‘iatea, Society Islands, between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This evolution was driven by political influences, particularly from Ra‘iatea’s Opoa chiefdom, which likely shaped Tahitian polities through the establishment of new marae (sacred complexes) and sacred landscapes. The study integrates archaeological data, ethnohistoric records, and toponymic analysis to reconstruct the ethnohistories of Tahitian chiefdoms—Vaiari, Papara, and Manotahi (Puna‘auia)—revealing a pattern of ceremonial centre relocation that mirrors Ra‘iatea’s model. This suggests a broader influence of Opoa on Windward Islands’ political and religious landscapes.

Maric, T. (2016). From the valley to the shore: A hypothesis of the spatial evolution of ceremonial centres on Tahiti and Ra‘iatea, Society Islands. Journal of the Polynesian Society, 125(3), 239–262. https://doi.org/10.15286/jps.125.3.239-262