The Last People Alive:The Last People Alive:Pitcairn & Henderson Pitcairn & Henderson

IslandsIslands

Hennie KashiwaHennie Kashiwa

9.22.059.22.05

OverviewOverview

►Only habitable islands in Southeast PolynesiaOnly habitable islands in Southeast Polynesia 1,000 miles from Marquesas and Societies1,000 miles from Marquesas and Societies

► Two volcanic and one reefTwo volcanic and one reef► Settled around 800 A.D.Settled around 800 A.D.► Co-dependent for survivalCo-dependent for survival► Environmental breakdown lead to Environmental breakdown lead to

breakdown of tradebreakdown of trade► Breakdown of trade lead to the extinction of Breakdown of trade lead to the extinction of

islandersislanders

MangarevaMangareva

► Largest and can support greatest populationLargest and can support greatest population► Pros:Pros:

Water and land for agricultureWater and land for agriculture►Yams, taro, breadfruit, bananasYams, taro, breadfruit, bananas

Trees for canoesTrees for canoes Marine lifeMarine life

► Black lipped oysterBlack lipped oyster Coarse-grained basaltCoarse-grained basalt Hub of greater trade systemHub of greater trade system

► Cons:Cons: Lack of high-quality stoneLack of high-quality stone

Pitcairn IslandPitcairn Island

► Small volcanic island—cannot support large populationSmall volcanic island—cannot support large population► Pros:Pros:

Volcanic glassVolcanic glass► Sharp toolsSharp tools

Dense basaltDense basalt► Tools… adzes, for exampleTools… adzes, for example

Trees for canoesTrees for canoes► Cons:Cons:

Steep terrainSteep terrain► Difficult to cultivateDifficult to cultivate► Little sea accessLittle sea access► No place to liveNo place to live

Little marine lifeLittle marine life► Underwater geography unfavorableUnderwater geography unfavorable

Henderson IslandHenderson Island

► Reef that has been pushed up by geological Reef that has been pushed up by geological forcesforces

► Somehow supported a tiny populationSomehow supported a tiny population► Pros:Pros:

Abundance of seafood and birds… that’s it. That Abundance of seafood and birds… that’s it. That and sea turtlesand sea turtles

A good picnic spot for travelersA good picnic spot for travelers► Cons:Cons:

Little fresh waterLittle fresh water No trees suitable for canoe-makingNo trees suitable for canoe-making No usable stoneNo usable stone No soil for cultivationNo soil for cultivation

Trade:Trade:ExportsExports

►MangarevaMangareva Black lipped oyster productsBlack lipped oyster products

►Vegetable peelers, fish hooksVegetable peelers, fish hooks

►PitcairnPitcairn Basalt and volcanic glassBasalt and volcanic glass

►Adzes, cutting tools, oven stonesAdzes, cutting tools, oven stones

►HendersonHenderson Food, some agricultural productsFood, some agricultural products

Trade: ImportsTrade: Imports

►MangarevaMangareva Pitcairn: volcanic glass, dense basaltPitcairn: volcanic glass, dense basalt Henderson: sea turtlesHenderson: sea turtles

►PitcairnPitcairn Mangareva: oyster products, peopleMangareva: oyster products, people Henderson: ?Henderson: ?

►HendersonHenderson Everything!Everything!

How do we know this?How do we know this?

►Marshall WeislerMarshall Weisler Stone analysisStone analysis

►Physical attributesPhysical attributes►Chemical compositionChemical composition

Carbon datingCarbon dating►Waste pilesWaste piles

CharcoalCharcoal Human/animal remainsHuman/animal remains

It’s all downhill from here…It’s all downhill from here…

► Interisland trade with the Marquesas Interisland trade with the Marquesas “motherland” peaked between 1100 “motherland” peaked between 1100 and 1300 A.D. and 1300 A.D.

►All trade stopped by 1500 A.D.All trade stopped by 1500 A.D.

Henderson Island: Oh No!!!Henderson Island: Oh No!!!

►Complete lack of trade lead to many Complete lack of trade lead to many shortcomings:shortcomings: No stone for tools, cooking stonesNo stone for tools, cooking stones

►Bird bones, giant clamshells used insteadBird bones, giant clamshells used instead

No wood for canoesNo wood for canoes►Not much they could do about this oneNot much they could do about this one

No oystersNo oysters►Purse shells used for limited hook makingPurse shells used for limited hook making

Henderson Island struggles on… Henderson Island struggles on… for a bit.for a bit.

► After loss of trade, a After loss of trade, a few dozen people few dozen people survived for nearly a survived for nearly a centurycentury

►Human presence lead Human presence lead to over harvesting of to over harvesting of wildlifewildlife Six species of birds Six species of birds

extinct along with sea extinct along with sea creaturescreatures

► All were gone by All were gone by 16061606

Pitcairn goes downPitcairn goes down

►HMS HMS BountyBounty arrives in 1790 arrives in 1790 Finds island uninhabitedFinds island uninhabited People probably disappeared much earlierPeople probably disappeared much earlier

►Massive deforestationMassive deforestation

Mangareva gets uglyMangareva gets ugly

►Deforestation Deforestation No trees to make canoes; fishing & trade No trees to make canoes; fishing & trade

impossibleimpossible Erosion of topsoilErosion of topsoil

►Unable to cultivate cropsUnable to cultivate crops

► Too many people, not enough to eatToo many people, not enough to eat Carrying capacity met and exceededCarrying capacity met and exceeded

►Civil war between east & west… it’s a 5 mile island!Civil war between east & west… it’s a 5 mile island! Breakdown in system of governmentBreakdown in system of government

►CannibalismCannibalism Not only eating the freshly dead, but also buried corpsesNot only eating the freshly dead, but also buried corpses

So how did it all end?So how did it all end?

►Wars?Wars?

Dwindling Population?Dwindling Population?

►A lone woman survived on San Nicolas A lone woman survived on San Nicolas Island for 18 years after everyone else Island for 18 years after everyone else dieddied

Mass murder?Mass murder?

► Fighting, Fighting, cannibalism?cannibalism?

Mass suicide?Mass suicide?

►A choice of desperationA choice of desperation

Just sitting around…Just sitting around…

►Everyone is related to each other… Everyone is related to each other… inbreeding taboos prevailinbreeding taboos prevail

Inbreeding…Inbreeding…

► Ignoring incest taboos, generations Ignoring incest taboos, generations begin to become defected… and die begin to become defected… and die offoff

What can we learn?What can we learn?

►Globalization= increasing worldwide Globalization= increasing worldwide interdependenceinterdependence Oil, for instanceOil, for instance

►What would happen if trade broke What would happen if trade broke down with major sources of import?down with major sources of import?