Natural and Constructed Defenses in Fijian Fortifications

Rugged landscapes play a significant role in the evolution of behavioral strategies aimed at subsistence and defense. This study presents geographic information system (GIS) analyses based on prehistoric fortifications in Fiji. Utilizing variables such as the distribution of arable land, the presence/absence of defensive features, and the natural defenses inherent in topography, i.e., the accessibility of forts and their commanding views of the landscape, correlations are revealed that are indicative of the costs and benefits of fort location and construction. These in turn yield insights into the origins and frequencies of a variety of defensive and subsistence strategies, and also indicate the degree to which geography plays a role in competitive societies.