Although chiefs are frequently associated with Polynesia and big-men with Melanesia, ascription and achievement are relevant to leadership in both regions. Hierarchical societies with ascribed leaders occur throughout Melanesia and, based on archaeological and ethnographic evidence, were more common in the past. In recent centuries, external influences have provided opportunities for achieved leadership. The purpose of this paper is to reconstruct Uneapa society as it existed at the end of the 19th century before intensive European contact. Historical accounts, recent archaeological research and oral accounts indicate that prior to the 20th century, Uneapa consisted of a number of chiefdoms. Location, descent and ranking were integral to social organisation, including institutions of war and peace. A 19th-century conflict that involved the whole island and resulted in the destruction of a community illustrates how these elements intersected. Internal and external change over 120 years have transformed Uneapa into a more egalitarian society, but traces of the old order remain. Uneapa is situated to the north of the Willaumez Peninsula, within the Proto-Oceanic triangle (as defined by Malcolm Ross), the likely dispersal centre for Western Oceanic languages. In a seismically active region, Uneapa differs from the Willaumez Peninsula and coastal West New Britain in terms of residential continuity. However, there are clues suggesting that social change has occurred since settlement.

中文翻译：

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19世纪的Uneapa岛社会：重建

尽管酋长经常与波利尼西亚有联系，大人物经常与美拉尼西亚有联系，但归属和成就与这两个地区的领导都息息相关。在梅拉尼西亚各地都有由归属领导者组成的等级制社会，根据考古和人种学证据，这种等级制社会在过去更为普遍。在最近的几个世纪中，外部影响为实现领导提供了机会。本文的目的是重建19世纪末欧洲与欧洲进行深入接触之前的Uneapa社会。历史记载，最近的考古学研究和口述记载表明，在20世纪之前，尤纳帕由许多领地组成。位置，血统和等级是包括战争与和平机构在内的社会组织的组成部分。涉及整个岛屿并导致社区遭到破坏的19世纪冲突说明了这些元素是如何相交的。120多年来的内部和外部变化使Uneapa变成了一个更加平等的社会，但是旧秩序的痕迹依然存在。Uneapa位于Willaumez半岛的北部，在原始海洋三角区域（由Malcolm Ross定义）内，该区域可能是西方海洋语言的传播中心。在地震活跃的地区，Uneapa与Willaumez半岛和西新不列颠沿海地区在居住连续性方面有所不同。但是，有迹象表明自定居以来发生了社会变革。120多年来的内部和外部变化使Uneapa变成了一个更加平等的社会，但是旧秩序的痕迹依然存在。Uneapa位于Willaumez半岛的北部，在原始海洋三角形（由Malcolm Ross定义）内，可能是西方海洋语言的传播中心。在地震活跃的地区，Uneapa与Willaumez半岛和西新不列颠沿海地区在居住连续性方面有所不同。但是，有迹象表明自定居以来发生了社会变革。120多年来的内部和外部变化使Uneapa变成了一个更加平等的社会，但是旧秩序的痕迹依然存在。Uneapa位于Willaumez半岛的北部，在原始海洋三角形（由Malcolm Ross定义）内，可能是西方海洋语言的传播中心。在地震活跃的地区，Uneapa与Willaumez半岛和西新不列颠沿海地区在居住连续性方面有所不同。但是，有迹象表明自定居以来发生了社会变革。Uneapa与Willaumez半岛和西新不列颠沿海地区在居住连续性方面有所不同。但是，有迹象表明自定居以来发生了社会变革。Uneapa与Willaumez半岛和西新不列颠沿海地区在居住连续性方面有所不同。但是，有迹象表明自定居以来发生了社会变革。