Colonising Aotearoa: A ‘Familiar Landscape’ approach

Abstract

Aotearoa New Zealand was settled fast and efficiently by East Polynesians around 800 years ago. In Hawai’iki, (the Homeland), Eastern Polynesians actively chose to establish village sites on the coastal flat, adjacent to the reef passage. This zone facilitated mobility and connectivity, which were key colonising strategies. Although the landscape in Aotearoa is different, the spit-bound estuary holds similar physical attributes to those of the preferred location in the homeland. Previous studies suggest that upon arrival to Aotearoa, people may have entrenched some facets of existing lifeways from the homeland into the new landscape by opting to settle spit-bound estuaries for reasons of familiarity. This research studies the use of cultural continuity of key colonising strategies through the selection of place. This thesis adds to the debate concerning the initial phases of colonisation of Aotearoa by investigating fourteen archaeological case studies. These case studies are in locations that mirror the preferred location from the Hawai’iki Zone. To facilitate data collection, this thesis utilises Geographical Information Systems (GIS) alongside a descriptive analysis of the archaeological evidence (including site location and material culture). In doing so, this thesis demonstrates that the selection and utilisation of familiar landscapes does in fact show that people continued to practice similar colonisation practices. The persistence of some aspects of culture from tropical Polynesia are projected on the archaeological landscape of Aotearoa. These tell a story of balance between adaptation and continuity.