Register      Login
The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Society
Research and review papers in the area of science, engineering and mathematics
RESEARCH ARTICLE

The earliest-known humans in Fiji and their pottery: the first dates from the 2002 excavations at Naitabale (Naturuku), Moturiki Island

Roselyn Kumar, Patrick D Nunn, Kazumichi Katayama, Hirotaka Oda, Sepeti Matararaba and Tamara Osborne

The South Pacific Journal of Natural Science 22(1) 16 - 22
Published: 15 December 2004

Abstract

Until this study, the earliest-known people to have occupied the islands of Fiji were those who inhabited Matanamuani on Naigani Island as much as 1000 BC. Excavations at the Naitabale (Naturuku) site in southern Moturiki Island in June-July 2002 found an older settlement. From the nature of the pottery recovered from Naitabale, it appears to predate the Matanamuani site. Radiocarbon dates on charcoal from within the pits excavated at Naitabale confirm the site’s age. The dates show that the site could have been occupied as much as 1220 BC. A human burial (named “Mana”) found within the older layers of Pit T1 at Naitabale is that of a female, about 1.60 m tall, of slender build. The first radiocarbon date shows that she lived at least 650 BC, probably close to 950 BC. Further tests will determine her other characteristics.

https://doi.org/10.1071/SP04003

© The University of the South Pacific 2004

PDF (1.2 MB) Export Citation

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share via Email

View Dimensions