The first populations in Fiji arrived approximately 3000 BP. These people made and used Lapita po... more The first populations in Fiji arrived approximately 3000 BP. These people made and used Lapita pottery and the similar decorative styles found in Fijian Lapita assemblages indicate widespread interaction or cultural transmission across the archipelago. Although a general picture of prehistoric cultural transmission in Fiji is emerging (e.g., Clark and Murray 2006), detailed patterns of transmission within and between populations are less well known. Within the Yasawa Islands of western Fiji (Figure 1) previous research indicates widespread cultural transmission after colonization at approximately 2700 BP, approximately 300 years later than the colonization of other Fijian islands. This spatially expansive cultural transmission lasted until 1000 BP after which time the spatial scale of transmission contracted and competition between human groups seems to have increased (Cochrane and Neff 2006). During June and July 2006 a team from the University College London Institute of Archaeolo...
Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapit... more Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapita-era (1150-750 BC) sites dating from the earliest period of Fiji’s human history have been found, was undertaken by a team from the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Museum. Surface collection and excavation in the largest cave – Qaranibourewa – was hindered by large amounts of ceiling collapse and no trace of human occupation earlier than about AD 1000 was found. The second-largest cave – Qaramatatolu – had a cave fill 190 cm thick but this was determined to be all of recent origin, having accumulated as a result of being washed down through a hole in the cave roof from a settlement above that probably existed AD 750-1250. The shell faunal remains from the Qaramatatolu excavation all suggest an open-coast location, quite different from the mangrove forest that fronts the area today. This mangrove forest probably formed only within the last few hundred years.
Petrographic analyses of sand tempers in Pacific Island potsherds reveal information about ancien... more Petrographic analyses of sand tempers in Pacific Island potsherds reveal information about ancient human interactions within archipelagic contexts. By comparison with bedrock mineralogy, analyses of 45 sherds from the Lapita settlement at Naitabale on Moturiki Island (central Fiji) show that most sherds were manufactured locally but that a minority is exotic. Using ternary plots of LF-QF-FM (LF—lithic fragments; QF—quartz + feldspar; FM—ferromagnesian), it is shown that exotic material (either pots or temper sands) most likely came from elsewhere in Fiji, probably southeast Viti Levu Island, central Lau, Lomaiviti and Kadavu. Geoscientific analyses of archaeological samples therefore gives us insights into how people likely interacted within the Fiji Archipelago three millennia ago.
Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly 'vanished'. The recollectio... more Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly 'vanished'. The recollections preserved in written sources and oral traditions (including a 2003-4 field survey) are presented and discussed together with a geological evaluation of whether these islands existed. Vuniivilevu was once a large island south of Moturiki Island in central Fiji; its form can be reconstructed. The location of Burotu is less certain, but it was probably close to Matuku Island in southeast Fiji. Both islands probably existed in fact. Vuniivilevu may have disappeared as a result of collapse of part of the east Viti Levu insular shelf between AD 1200 and 1600. Burotu may have slipped down the steep flanks of Matuku Island (of which it was part) at least 1000 years ago. The fact that such islands periodically disappear is supported by numerous examples from other islands in the Pacific and elsewhere, and underline the point that many such environments are inherently unstable. It is demonstrat...
Fiji’s 300 isles are enclosed within a total sea area of about 1,260,000km2 of its Exclusive Econ... more Fiji’s 300 isles are enclosed within a total sea area of about 1,260,000km2 of its Exclusive Economic Zone and to date very little work has been carried out on underwater and maritime archaeology. Resource materials documented by the Archaeology Department of the Fiji Museum have identified more than 500 shipwrecks, a great number of which were wrecked less than 50 years ago. The establishment of an Underwater Unit at the Fiji Museum is needed to safeguard the nation’s underwater historic sites and raise awareness towards understanding the untold sunken mysteries that connect Fiji to the world; however there are several issues that need to be addressed in order for this Unit to be established and run effectively. This paper discusses the need for further capacity building and training in Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) studies to successfully document, survey and protect Fiji’s underwater cultural sites. Furthermore, the area of developing policy papers, funding proposals and the documentation of findings will also require special attention to sustain UCH projects. Alike the other developing countries, the paper highlights the daunting challenges that face the Fiji Museum including the lack of human resources, equipment and above all insufficient funding to carry out this much needed work.
Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly'vanished'. The recollection... more Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly'vanished'. The recollections preserved in written sources and oral traditions (including a 2003-4 field survey) are presented and discussed together with a geological evaluation of whether these islands ...
The first populations in Fiji arrived approximately 3000 BP. These people made and used Lapita po... more The first populations in Fiji arrived approximately 3000 BP. These people made and used Lapita pottery and the similar decorative styles found in Fijian Lapita assemblages indicate widespread interaction or cultural transmission across the archipelago. Although a general picture of prehistoric cultural transmission in Fiji is emerging (e.g., Clark and Murray 2006), detailed patterns of transmission within and between populations are less well known. Within the Yasawa Islands of western Fiji (Figure 1) previous research indicates widespread cultural transmission after colonization at approximately 2700 BP, approximately 300 years later than the colonization of other Fijian islands. This spatially expansive cultural transmission lasted until 1000 BP after which time the spatial scale of transmission contracted and competition between human groups seems to have increased (Cochrane and Neff 2006). During June and July 2006 a team from the University College London Institute of Archaeolo...
Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapit... more Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapita-era (1150-750 BC) sites dating from the earliest period of Fiji’s human history have been found, was undertaken by a team from the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Museum. Surface collection and excavation in the largest cave – Qaranibourewa – was hindered by large amounts of ceiling collapse and no trace of human occupation earlier than about AD 1000 was found. The second-largest cave – Qaramatatolu – had a cave fill 190 cm thick but this was determined to be all of recent origin, having accumulated as a result of being washed down through a hole in the cave roof from a settlement above that probably existed AD 750-1250. The shell faunal remains from the Qaramatatolu excavation all suggest an open-coast location, quite different from the mangrove forest that fronts the area today. This mangrove forest probably formed only within the last few hundred years.
Petrographic analyses of sand tempers in Pacific Island potsherds reveal information about ancien... more Petrographic analyses of sand tempers in Pacific Island potsherds reveal information about ancient human interactions within archipelagic contexts. By comparison with bedrock mineralogy, analyses of 45 sherds from the Lapita settlement at Naitabale on Moturiki Island (central Fiji) show that most sherds were manufactured locally but that a minority is exotic. Using ternary plots of LF-QF-FM (LF—lithic fragments; QF—quartz + feldspar; FM—ferromagnesian), it is shown that exotic material (either pots or temper sands) most likely came from elsewhere in Fiji, probably southeast Viti Levu Island, central Lau, Lomaiviti and Kadavu. Geoscientific analyses of archaeological samples therefore gives us insights into how people likely interacted within the Fiji Archipelago three millennia ago.
Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly 'vanished'. The recollectio... more Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly 'vanished'. The recollections preserved in written sources and oral traditions (including a 2003-4 field survey) are presented and discussed together with a geological evaluation of whether these islands existed. Vuniivilevu was once a large island south of Moturiki Island in central Fiji; its form can be reconstructed. The location of Burotu is less certain, but it was probably close to Matuku Island in southeast Fiji. Both islands probably existed in fact. Vuniivilevu may have disappeared as a result of collapse of part of the east Viti Levu insular shelf between AD 1200 and 1600. Burotu may have slipped down the steep flanks of Matuku Island (of which it was part) at least 1000 years ago. The fact that such islands periodically disappear is supported by numerous examples from other islands in the Pacific and elsewhere, and underline the point that many such environments are inherently unstable. It is demonstrat...
Fiji’s 300 isles are enclosed within a total sea area of about 1,260,000km2 of its Exclusive Econ... more Fiji’s 300 isles are enclosed within a total sea area of about 1,260,000km2 of its Exclusive Economic Zone and to date very little work has been carried out on underwater and maritime archaeology. Resource materials documented by the Archaeology Department of the Fiji Museum have identified more than 500 shipwrecks, a great number of which were wrecked less than 50 years ago. The establishment of an Underwater Unit at the Fiji Museum is needed to safeguard the nation’s underwater historic sites and raise awareness towards understanding the untold sunken mysteries that connect Fiji to the world; however there are several issues that need to be addressed in order for this Unit to be established and run effectively. This paper discusses the need for further capacity building and training in Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) studies to successfully document, survey and protect Fiji’s underwater cultural sites. Furthermore, the area of developing policy papers, funding proposals and the documentation of findings will also require special attention to sustain UCH projects. Alike the other developing countries, the paper highlights the daunting challenges that face the Fiji Museum including the lack of human resources, equipment and above all insufficient funding to carry out this much needed work.
Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly'vanished'. The recollection... more Vuniivilevu and Burotu are two islands in Fiji that allegedly'vanished'. The recollections preserved in written sources and oral traditions (including a 2003-4 field survey) are presented and discussed together with a geological evaluation of whether these islands ...
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