Space and structure in Polynesia: instantiated spatial logic in American Sāmoa

ABSTRACTThis study examines the intersections of spatial logic and archaeology in the Sāmoan Archipelago of Polynesia. These islands provide model systems for understanding social space given their small size and bounded nature. We argue that spatial logic, defined as group conceptualization of space or shared orientations, contributes to the patterning of archaeological remains in Sāmoa. The building of architectural structures and the cultural structuring of space can also be seen as political negotiation, even though the ideal spatial distribution is never met. While shared general patterns of spatial orientation may be identified across wide regions, it is also important to understand the development of spatial logic in the archaeological record as active processes embedded within historical context.