An archaeomalacological investigation of chitons on the Hane Dune site, Ua Huka, Marquesas Islands

Intensive exploitation of the chiton Acanthopleura gemmata during the first three centuries of occupation at the Hane Dune site, Ua Huka (Marquesas Islands), led to its abrupt depletion by around AD 950. This finding challenges previous assumptions about subsistence practices in Central-East Polynesia and underscores the significance of precise taxonomic identification and refined recovery protocols in archaeomalacological studies. Researchers used zooarchaeological methods, spatial analysis, and biometry to demonstrate that A. gemmata was a critical resource for ancient ‘Enata communities before its replacement by the limpet Cellana radiata. The study highlights the importance of detailed species-level analysis in reconstructing past subsistence trends.

Traversat, G., Molle, G., Conte, E., & Salvat, B. (2021). An archaeomalacological investigation of chitons on the Hane Dune site, Ua Huka, Marquesas Islands. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 18(3), 475–497. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2021.1986177