Settlement and Diversity in the Solomon Islands

Abstract

ArchaeologistsworkingintheSolomonIslandshaveoftensupplementedtheirsurveysby recordingoraltraditionsrelatingtoancientsites.These two sourcesofevidencesometimes yielddiscrepant information. Thisproblemcanbe resolvedwhenthestructure as wellasthe contentofthesetraditionsis examined.This also providesinsightintothe way in which SolomonIslandersformalised theirknowledgeofsuitablesettlement sitesandtheimplications whichthishad forsettlement location.The studyofsettlements indicatestheextraordinary degreeofculturaldiversityto be foundwithinand betweenislands.A critiqueofTerrell's attemptto use a model based on biogeographyto explain thisphenomenonleadsto the investigation ofalternativeapproaches.