Archaeology and Archaeobotany at the Land‐Sea Boundary in Pohnpei State, Micronesia

Human settlement in much of the Pacific Islands, including Micronesia, is closely associated with littoral or coastal environments. From an ethnographic perspective, crossing the land‐sea boundary is a habitual and necessary act of existence for people who inhabit both volcanic and coral islands. Fishing, marine hunting, intertidal foraging, and the cultivation of plants have been integral to subsistence economies in this region. Coastal and intertidal sites are an ideal setting for exploring concepts of boundaries, liminality, and middle ground. Here, we take a multi‐site approach to understanding the importance of this environment, drawing on case studies from the volcanic island of Pohnpei and the coral atoll of Pingelap. Engaging with archaeobotanical (phytolith and plant macroremain) and excavation datasets, we explore the creation of sites on the water's edge. Specifically, we are interested in how littoral zones have been used in the Micronesian past, and the ways in which these environments function as liminal spaces – that is to say, culturally distinctive thresholds between the land and sea.