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Lapita on the Periphery. New data on old problems in the Kingdom of Tonga
Author(s) -
Burley David V.,
Dickinson William R.,
Barton Andrew,
Shutler Richard
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
archaeology in oceania
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1834-4453
pISSN - 0728-4896
DOI - 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2001.tb00481.x
Subject(s) - archipelago , settlement (finance) , archaeology , excavation , chronology , geography , kingdom , geology , paleontology , world wide web , computer science , payment
Archaeological research in the Kingdom of Tonga over the past four decades illustrates a widespread distribution of Lapita coloniser sites throughout the archipelago. A 1999 re‐excavation and assessment of the Nukuleka (To 2) and Ha'ateiho (To 5) sites on Fanga 'Uta Lagoon on the southern island of Tongatapu, as well as survey of the Lapita‐age paleoshoreline of the lagoon, provide new insights on old problems relating to first human settlement. The Tongatapu results are compared to Lapita site data recovered from the Ha'apai island group between 1995 and 1997. Inferences subsequently are made on the broader issues of Tongan chronology, settlement progression, material culture technologies, settlement pattern and economy.