Turtles for the ancestors: A zooarchaeological study of ritual deposits on Fakahina, Tuamotu archipelago (French Polynesia)

Rituals and feasting ceremonies at Polynesian marae depict culturally complex relationships between humans and animals that cannot be explained by subsistence alone. In Central-East Polynesia, this topic still requires the elaboration of a "ritual zooarchaeology" framework. Using sea turtle assemblages from three sacred sites on Fakahina atoll (Tuamotu), this study offers a preliminary approach to faunal deposits from ritual contexts. Following systematic excavations of marae on Fakahina, analysis aimed to determine whether faunal deposits could be linked with intentional feasting and offering behaviours. To detect how ritual actions were organised through space, skeletal and taphonomic variables were examined for both overall sites and "sub-assemblages" within sites based on the spatial associations of fauna with site features.At certain site features, derived quantitative units such as %MAU and recovery rate could identify potential offering behaviours through the intentional sorting of culturally significant body parts. The taphonomic signatures of site features could also identify open or closed deposition environments, assisting with the identification of disturbed features as either exposed platforms or enclosed cists. In addition to highlighting previously undocumented complexity in the use of site features, an overall comparison of turtle remains from the three sites shows the potential of these methods to explore variation in ritual practices. Les rituels et festins ceremoniels conduits sur les marae polynesiens refletent des relations hommes-animaux complexes depassant le cadre de la simple subsistance. Neanmoins, ce sujet de recherche en Polynesie centre-orientale requiert l'elaboration d'un cadre d'analyse, autrement dit une "archeozoologie du rituel." Se basant sur des assemblages de tortues de trois sites sacres sur l'atoll de Fakahina (archipel des Tuamotu), cette etude cherche a determiner si les depots fauniques peuvent etre mis en rapport avec des comportements de consommation ceremonielle ou d'offrandes. Afin de reconstituer l'organisation spatiale des actions rituelles, nous examinons les variations squelettiques et taphonomiques aux echelles inter et intra-sites.Dans certaines structures, les analyses quantitatives (Minimal Animal Unit, Recovery rate) ont permis d'identifier des comportements rituels au travers du depot intentionnel de parties importantes de l'animal. Les signatures taphonomiques contribuent egalement a distinguer des environnements de depot ouverts ou fermes. Cette etude revele non seulement une complexite de gestes jusqu'a present pas documentes archeologiquement, mais aussi le potentiel de notre approche pour explorer les variations de pratiques rituelles entre sites.