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Times of sand: Sedimentary history and archaeology at the Sigatoka Dunes, Fiji
Author(s) -
Anderson Atholl,
Roberts Richard,
Dickinson William,
Clark Geoffrey,
Burley David,
de Biran Antoine,
Hope Geoffrey,
Nunn Patrick
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.20094
Subject(s) - radiocarbon dating , prehistory , archaeology , period (music) , geology , sand dune stabilization , sequence (biology) , sedimentary rock , sequence stratigraphy , paleontology , geography , geomorphology , sedimentary depositional environment , art , structural basin , biology , genetics , aesthetics
The orthodox archaeological sequence at the Sigatoka Dunes site (VL 16/1) in Fiji proposes three phases of occupation spanning Fijian prehistory, each associated with a period of dune stability. It has been taken as the standard model of Fijian prehistory for more than 30 years. Recently, however, it has been argued that there is no stratigraphic support for three discrete levels and that the occupation history was fragmented, complex, and continuous within a volatile dune system. We present new data, from optical and radiocarbon dating, to argue that a three‐phase model, although somewhat more complex in detail, remains the most robust interpretation of site history. The longest stable phase (Level 2) began 2500–2300 cal yr B.P. and is possibly associated with relatively low ENSO frequency. Substantial sand dune accumulation began after ˜1300 cal yr B.P. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.