New Zealand Journal of Archaeology Index  >  Vol 25 O’Day

 

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY ISSN 0110~540X ABSTRACT

 

Defining the Lau Context:

Recent Findings on Nayau, Lau Islands, Fiji

 

Sharyn Jones O’Day1, Patrick O’Day1, and David W. Steadman2

 

ABSTRACT

We present analyses of reconnaissance surveys, test excavations, stratigraphy,

chronology, material culture, and faunal remains from 14 archaeological sites on

Nayau, Lau Islands, Fiji. We found Lapita pottery on sand dunes along the southeast

coast of the island. Although this site was not stratigraphically excavated or dated, our

survey and test excavations of the surrounding area indicate that Lapita-period subsurface

deposits are intact and widespread. Elsewhere, we obtained six AMS

radiocarbon dates from bones recovered in test excavations at various site types and

locations. None of the dated samples is older than ca. 710 cal BP. This chronology,

combined with the presence of the Lapita site and survey data, suggests that human

occupation of Nayau was continuous since Lapita times. Like Lakeba (Best 1984),

Nayau incorporates all ceramic and cultural phases previously defined for Fiji. We

suggest that archaeological data from Nayau are critical to understanding patterns of

prehistoric contact and change in Lauan and Fijian society.

 

Keywords: NAYAU, FIJI, ZOOARCHAEOLOGY, LAPITA, LAU ISLANDS,

ARCHAEOLOGY.

 

1Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

2Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

 

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