Archery Platforms (Vahi te'a) in the Society Islands, Polynesia A contextual interpretation

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to try to reach a better understanding of the meanings of archery platforms and the rituals which took place around the archery competitions in the Society Islands in central Polynesia. A contextual interpretation of the material remains is therefore suggested. The conclusions based on the archaeological and ethnohistorical descriptions show that the development of archery platforms took place within a specific historical context and expresses the Polynesian concepts of mana (power) and tapu (prohibitions).