Distribution and Design of Pacific Octopus Lures: the Hawaiian Octopus Lure in Regional Context

Abstract

Tracking the historical pathways of human migrations across the Pacific has been a primary goal of Oceanic archaeology. This is accomplished in part by examining material remains in a comparative temporal-spatial framework. Archaeologists have traditionally looked at stylistic variation to build chronologies and infer rela­tionships, but have often neglected functional aspects of artifacts. By separating stylistic and functional dimensions of artifact variability, the origin and distribu­tions of traits may be more readily understood (Dunnell 1978). In this regard, components of marine tool kits have been key in identifying homologous similar­ities within the Pacific region (e.g., Allen 1992; Buck 1930, 1964; Emory et al. 1968). Allen (1992; MS) has recently begun to explore functional aspects of fish­hooks as well. The focus of this paper is a widespread but little investigated fish­ing tool, the octopus lure, which reached its most complex and developed form in the Hawaiian Islands. The emphasis is on functional features of the octopus lure, but distributional patterns within Polynesia, which may reflect ancestry and con­tact, are also explored.