Marquesas Dog

Little is known about the Marquesas Dog. It was introduced to the archipelago by the first Polynesian colonists, at the same time as the chicken and domestic pig, and as the Polynesian rat. It is thought that the species became extinct before the arrival of Spanish explorers in 1595, although some may have survived beyond that date. No European account has ever been written about them. They appear to have been quite rare and 'never numerous in the islands,' even before the arrival of Europeans. Unlike other parts of Polynesia, these dogs were not considered a significant food source, although they were sometimes consumed as shown by the presence of cut marks on dog bones found in archaeological excavations. Due to their rarity, they were venerated by the Marquesans and were closely associated with great chiefs and priestly classes. Many dog petroglyphs have been found near religious centers and residential areas of chiefs, indicating the veneration they inspired and their cultural importance. Research conducted by American archaeologist Sidsel N. Millerstrom has shown that the majority of these petroglyphs are found in the valleys of ʻAʻakapa, Haʻatuatua, and Hatiheu on the north coast of Nuku Hiva, the meʻae Vaikivi on Ua Huka, and the meʻae Iʻipona and the valley of Eiaone on Hiva Oa. Their regional distributions may have reflected the role of dogs as symbols of tribal/clan loyalty and identity on the islands. They were totem animals associated with the Naki'i tribe.