History, Phylogeny, and Evolution in Polynesia

Abstract

In the study of evolution, biological or cultural, a critical element is a methodology fOI distinguishing homologous from analogous characters.The histOIical knowledge this requires must be sought in the phylogeny of the modem groups under study and their com mon ancestors.Applying the methods for detennining the phy logenetic relationships among cultural groups defined some years ago by Romney and VOg! to the results of recent archaeological and historical linguistic work, we examine Polynesia as a well defined case of cultural "radiation" and divergence for which the specific shared ancestral traits can be distinguished from conver gent developments in response to common selection pressures.We go on to present a series of hypotheses regarding some major factors underlying divergence and convergence in Polynesia in the hope that others will be stimulated to test them and thereby ad vance our understanding of this region.