Defensibility and views from accessible coastlines are the best predictors of ancient Samoan fort locations

Samoan fort construction and location is investigated relative to variable resources and environments using geostatistical analyses and LiDAR data. Our results indicate that fort locations are predicted by defensibility and views from accessible coastline. Attributes of fort construction, such as the presence of ditches, are used to create a series of fort classifications of differing complexity, with some fort types associated with particular areas of Samoa or specific environments. The results are interpreted within an evolutionary framework, where ancient Samoan forts provide insights into socio-political organization, including territoriality and competition in relation to resources, broadly conceived.