Networks and Monumentality in the Pacific ed. by Aymeric Hermann et al.

A recent edited volume, 'Networks and Monumentality in the Pacific,' offers new insights into the diachronic changes and materiality of Pacific Island monuments. Focusing on case studies from Vanuatu, Western Micronesia, Western Polynesia, and Eastern Polynesia, the book explores how symbolic plants like banyan, breadfruit, and kava were intentionally cultivated around ceremonial centers, such as Nan Madol in Pohnpei, to enhance their symbolic properties. The study also reveals that later vegetation overgrowth threatens the long-term conservation of these sites. Additionally, it introduces a four-part typology for Tongan stone mounds, suggesting that Type 4a and 4b structures represent later additions by junior chiefly lineages, indicating their use as status symbols. The volume employs diverse methods, including historic documents, archaeological surveys, material culture analysis, and biological data, providing a comprehensive perspective on the region's monumental architecture.

Kahn, J. G. (2022). Networks and Monumentality in the Pacific ed. by Aymeric Hermann et al. Asian Perspectives, 61(1), 184–186. https://doi.org/10.1353/asi.2022.0012