Stones in Motion: monuments and chiefly title histories in central Vanuatu

Stones serve as foundational elements in the chiefly title system of central Vanuatu, anchoring narratives and genealogical claims that trace migration histories. The study highlights three key sets of stones: Wotanimanu, a stone pillar symbolizing a chief's arrival by sea; grave markers, magic stones, and stone arrangements representing successive chiefs; and stelae erected by the first Presbyterian missionary to commemorate conversions. These stones embody chiefly power and agency, illustrating how material culture sustains social structures and historical memory in the Shepherd Islands.

Ballard, C. (2023). Stones in Motion: monuments and chiefly title histories in central Vanuatu. Archaeology in Oceania, 58(1), 20–32. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/arco.5283