The anthropometry of Pukapuka. Anthropological papers of the AMNH ; v. 38, pt. 3
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Date
1942
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Publisher
New York City : By order of the Trustees of the American Museum of Natural History
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Abstract
"The anthropometric data on 204 natives of Pukapuka, evenly divided as to sex are herein presented. On the basis of a comparative study of the means, the Pukapukan population appears to be intimately related to the western Polynesians, particularly those of Samoa and Tonga. Two deviations among the Pukapukans from the standards of western Polynesia create, however, a blemish on the purity of this kinship. The Pukapukans have noticeably shorter and slightly wider heads than the Samoans and Tongans. Such a divergence is possible simply as a consequence of isolation and the dominance of family lines in a relatively small population. Another explanation takes into account possible influences from the strongly brachycephalic populations of central Polynesia focusing in the Society Islands. The other significant departure among the Pukapukans from Polynesian characteristics is their significantly reduced stature. In view of the contiguity of Pukapuka to Micronesia which is sharply distinguished from Polynesia by a general decrease in stature it is probable that influences emanating from this region are responsible for the decline in the stature of Pukapuka. A direct contact, however, is quite improbable on genetic grounds. It is therefore suggested, since the Tokelau and Ellice groups are geographically transitional to Micronesia that their natives, with whom the Pukapukans have traditionally been in contact, might have served to transmit this effect. This is offered only tentatively and cannot be demonstrated in the absence of specific data for these archipelagoes"--P. 169.
Description
p. 141-169 ; 24 cm.
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