Subject
Archaeological Research, Cultural Heritage, Vanuatu History, Chief Roy Mata, Archaeological Techniques, Pottery Styles (Mangaasi-style, Lapita), Geological Changes, Indigenous Culture, Anthropological Studies, Cultural Preservation

Domains
Archéologie, Histoire, Sciences Sociales, Sciences humaines

Description

The paper discusses archaeological research and training conducted at Mangaasi on the island of Efate, Vanuatu, during August to September 1996. The report outlines previous research by French archaeologist José Garanger, who excavated evidence of a village associated with Chief Roy Mata, dating back to about 700 BC. The report details the 1996 project, where new archaeological layers were discovered, and the beach sand below the 700 BC village yielded evidence of earlier human presence. The study aimed to understand land uplift due to earthquakes and the chronological sequence of settlement and cultural activities. The findings suggest that Efate has risen at least 2 meters out of the sea over the last 3000 years. The paper also discusses different pottery styles and their implications for dating and cultural history, including Mangaasi-style pottery and Lapita pottery. The authors explore evidence of volcanic ash layers and their impact on the archaeological record. Additionally, the age of Roy Mata's village and the significance of archaeological techniques in uncovering historical narratives are discussed.

Keywords

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Spriggs, Matthew

Contributors

Sources
Typescript, on file Vanuatu National Library

Relation

Coverage
Efate

Name of newspaper