🚀 go-pugleaf

: On Mon, May 15, 2000, 8:44am (CDT+17)  benlizro@ihug.co.nz (benlizross)
: wrote

: On the third point, as was explained during the earlier exchange: The NW
: coast bark beaters broke down cedar bark into fibres. These fibres were
: then used for a variety of purposes, including twining to make into
: capes etc. Polynesian tapa beaters flattened and spread the inner bark
: of Broussonetia papyrifera and other plants, and bonded pieces together,
: to make a thin, paper-like fabric (tapa, bark cloth). Very little tapa
: was made in NZ, since the bark-cloth plants didn't grow well. The Maori
: twined capes mentioned in the earlier post were probably made from NZ
: flax, but it's possible that some were made from bark. If the twining
: techniques were the same in the two areas, that would be a different
: matter from the question of bark cloth. 
: Ross Clark 

natura1ist@webtv.net wrote:

: Thanks for the information.
: Sounds as if the bark beaters did beat bark, just for a different
: purpose. 

Hallelluya! We've seen the light!

But actually, the purpose was the same. It was the materials that were
different.

: There are, of course, many reasons for cross cultural
: similarities that do not require contact.  That was not my point.  Most
: posters on this ng are as least somewhat sceptical of such contacts and
: in such an environment it is too easy to become generally dismissive.
: I recall an article you had in Prehistory of Polynesia where you made a
: similar point regarding careful analysis before making a decision
: regarding the word for sweet potato.

: I see the case for either "side" in this contact issue as not proven and
: as having insufficient data.

Not at all, natura1ist. Let's go step by step. 

1. It is perfectly clear that there are many cultural similarities
between NWC and Hawaii. To deny this is just plain dishonest, or
ignorant, or both.

2. Having accepted #1, the question may further arise as to how to
explain these similarities. Here, a number of explanations are
theoretically possible.

3. The weight of evidence seems to point clearly that diffusion from NWC
to Hawaii is the most economical explanation.

One can debate #3, but I don't see how #1 can be in doubt. As to #2, all
depends on the desire to investigate this subject. Many people would
rather avoid it completely.

Regards,

Yuri.

Yuri Kuchinsky  -=O=- http://www.trends.ca/~yuku

Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, 
it is time to reform  -=O=-  Mark Twain