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The paper discusses the cultural diversity in Island Melanesia and suggests that the foundations for this diversity were laid at the end of the production of dentate-stamped Lapita pottery 2700 years ago. The authors argue that this diversity reflects efforts to produce and maintain geographically based social distinctions, influenced by rapidly changing population dynamics and environmental conditions. The paper examines cultural sequences in Vanuatu, specifically Erromango, Efate, and Malekula Islands, to better understand the changes that occurred after the Lapita period. The authors highlight the need for a better characterization of what changes during the Post-Lapita period and discuss the lack of links between Fijian post-Lapita pottery and other pottery styles outside the Fijian archipelago. They conclude that the resemblances between post-Lapita pottery styles in Island Melanesia are superficial and derive from shared inheritance from Lapita rather than continuing connections. The paper raises research issues that require further elucidation to better understand post-Lapita changes in Island Melanesia.