Sea Voyage: The Evolving Maritime Cultural Landscape of American Samoa
Dublin Core
Title
Sea Voyage: The Evolving Maritime Cultural Landscape of American Samoa
Description
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States with a long and continuous history of ocean
connection and maritime activities, from the initial voyaging discovery some 3,000 years ago to modern cruise
ships and fishing fleets. Understanding this history as it is reflected in the maritime landscape helps us
appreciate not only how the maritime past has evolved, but how the cultural and ecosystem benefits related to
the ocean persist and remain important today. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recently
completed a descriptive ArcGIS StoryMap of American Samoa, drawing from tangible and intangible cultural
resources inventories and data compiled by NOAA’s sanctuary staff, archival information, archaeological
surveys, and site cultural information from participant workshops. The territory’s story is presented as
something of a maritime voyage through time, touching upon elements of the original Pacific voyaging and
discovery of the islands, Samoan settlement culture and watercraft, western discovery and mapping, fautasi
longboat heritage and copra plantations, activities during the naval period and WWII, and contemporary
maritime spaces (commercial shipping and fishing). This StoryMap presents our human ties to the ocean, and
the maritime cultural landscape of American Samoa, placing an importance on ocean locations, activities and
events that have shaped the Samoan Islands and continue to define who we are today. Hopefully, a more
comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance of our ocean spaces can contribute to better
conservation and management of marine resources.
connection and maritime activities, from the initial voyaging discovery some 3,000 years ago to modern cruise
ships and fishing fleets. Understanding this history as it is reflected in the maritime landscape helps us
appreciate not only how the maritime past has evolved, but how the cultural and ecosystem benefits related to
the ocean persist and remain important today. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recently
completed a descriptive ArcGIS StoryMap of American Samoa, drawing from tangible and intangible cultural
resources inventories and data compiled by NOAA’s sanctuary staff, archival information, archaeological
surveys, and site cultural information from participant workshops. The territory’s story is presented as
something of a maritime voyage through time, touching upon elements of the original Pacific voyaging and
discovery of the islands, Samoan settlement culture and watercraft, western discovery and mapping, fautasi
longboat heritage and copra plantations, activities during the naval period and WWII, and contemporary
maritime spaces (commercial shipping and fishing). This StoryMap presents our human ties to the ocean, and
the maritime cultural landscape of American Samoa, placing an importance on ocean locations, activities and
events that have shaped the Samoan Islands and continue to define who we are today. Hopefully, a more
comprehensive understanding of the cultural significance of our ocean spaces can contribute to better
conservation and management of marine resources.
Creator
Hans K. Van Tilburg
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
2023
Language
English
Bibliographic Citation
Van Tilburg, Hans K. . 2023. “Sea Voyage: The Evolving Maritime Cultural Landscape of American Samoa.” Edited by Jennifer Craig, Jay Mok and T. Kurt Knoerl. In Proceedings of Fifth Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Gwangju, The Republic of Korea, November 13-18 2023. The Museum of Underwater Archaeology. URL: https://apconf.omeka.net/exhibits/show/apconfproceedings/item/2030
Files
Citation
Hans K. Van Tilburg, “Sea Voyage: The Evolving Maritime Cultural Landscape of American Samoa,” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/656.