Talk:Tabuaeran

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In a John Updike story partially set on Fanning Island, the narrator states that there was evidence, before Fanning's arrival, of a long-abandoned Polynesian settlement, and speculates that the group arriving there initially was a hunting, fishing, or trading party which was driven off-course and was stranded there and that the settlement probably eventually died out because the party, given Polynesian culture of the era, was probably all-male. While this is an obvious speculation (and is presented as such in the story), the fact that the settlement once existed is treated (in the story) as a fact. Is this part of the Island's real history, or is it, too, fictional and part of the background for a fictionalized story about a real place? (If the early settlement is historical, it undoubtedly deserves a place in the article.) Rlquall 23:32, 27 Nov 2004 (UTC)

A bit of evidence exists of Polynesian presence. I think it may be too scant to declare the "settlement" as a village (and certainly speculative to state "all-male" or purpose). I think the author of the archeo. paper was Sinoto. I was with Aki Sinoto when he was looking for such evidence in the 1970's, but I cannot now recall if the original find was his or his dad's from an earlier expedition. I may have Aki's report around my office somewhere - Marshman 17:14, 28 Nov 2004 (UTC)