Dissertation: Archaeology of the Western Caroline Islands

在威廉·艾尔斯博士的指导下，斯科特·菲茨帕特里克先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将对位于太平洋西卡罗来纳州群岛的帕劳岛进行考古研究，并对收集的石质样品进行微量元素分析。雅普岛位于距离帕劳约400海里的地方，考古学家以使用石币而闻名，在岛上发现了一些重达数吨的石币。这些石头被雕刻成扁平的圆形，中间有一个洞。特定的价值是由一个复杂的系统确定的，部分基于每一块石头的历史，它们是公认的货币。它们也给它们的主人带来了声望和权力。虽然有些石头是从当地的岩石上雕刻出来的，但许多石头是用独木舟从帕劳岛上雕刻出来的，这种做法自延续到历史时期以来一直被民族志所描述。至少在最近，雅普岛上的居民会前往帕劳，以货物或劳动力的形式支付费用，以换取开采和运输原材料的权利。然而，尚不清楚这种做法是从何时开始的，史前采矿是如何进行的，雅普和帕劳的特定村庄或群体之间可能存在什么联系。通过一个考古发掘和原材料化学分析项目，菲茨帕特里克将解决这些问题。他将在两个采石场进行挖掘，这些采石场可能包含陶器、生产废物和其他文化材料。有机样品将被收集用于放射性碳测年。有了这样的数据，就有可能确定石材提取的可能起源和随后的发展。通过对加工材料和母质的化学分析，还应该可以确定最常使用的岩石类型，并确定为什么会出现这种情况。菲茨帕特里克还将评估将每一笔钱追溯到特定采石场来源的可能性。通过微量元素分析，他将确定单一来源内的可变性范围和不同来源之间的重叠程度。如果能辨别出独特的“化学指纹”，那么来源就应该是可能的。在第一次与西方接触时，许多太平洋社会是高度分层的，有着复杂的社会组织形式。人类学家希望了解这些是如何随着时间的推移而发展起来的，并认为对贸易的控制和操纵发挥了重要作用。雅加达和帕劳提供了一个很好的机会来研究这个问题。这项工作的结果将会引起许多考古学家的兴趣。该项目还将帮助培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. William Ayres, Mr. Scott Fitzpatrick will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct archaeological research on the island of Palau located in the Pacific Western Carolines Islands and couple this with trace element analysis of lithic samples collected. The island of Yap, located ca. 400 nautical miles from Palau is well known to archaeologists for its use of stone money and examples, some weighing many tons, have been discovered on the island. These stones were carved into flattened circular shapes with a single hole cut into the center. Specific value was attributed by a complicated system based in part on the history of each stone and they served as recognized currency. They also brought prestige and power to their owners. Although some stones were carved from local rock, many were fashioned and transported by canoe from the island of Palau and this practice has been ethnographically described since it continued into historic times. At least in the recent past, Yap islanders would travel to Palau and pay, either in the form of goods or labor, for the right to mine and transport the raw material. However it is unclear when this practice originated, how prehistoric mining was conducted and what ties might have existed between specific villages or groups on Yap and Palau. Through a program of archaeological excavation and chemical analysis of raw materials Mr. Fitzpatrick will address these issues. He will conduct excavations at two quarry sites which likely contain pottery, production waste and other cultural materials. Organic samples will be collected for radiocarbon dating. With such data it should be possible to date the probable origin and subsequent development of stone extraction. Through a chemical analysis of both worked and parent material, it should also be possible to determine what types of rocks were most frequently utilized and determine why such was the case. Mr. Fitzpatrick will also evaluate the possibility of tracing individual pieces of money back to a specific quarry source. Through trace element analysis he will establish the range of variability within the single source and the degree of overlap among different sources. If distinctive "chemical fingerprints" can be distinguished, then sourcing should be possible.At the time of first western contact, many Pacific societies were highly stratified and had complex forms of social organization. Anthropologists wish to understand how these developed over time and believe that control and manipulation of trade played a major role. Yap and Palau provide an excellent situation in which to examine this question. The results of this work will be of interest to many archaeologists. The project will also assist in training a promising young scientist.