Subject
Archaeological Investigation, Lapita Site, Teouma, Central Vanuatu, Environmental History, Cultural History, Pottery, Obsidian, Faunal Material, Artifacts, Funding, Pacific Biological Foundation, Australian National University, Education Outreach, Radiocarbon Dating, Human Settlement, Remote Oceania

Domains
Archéologie, Sciences Sociales, Sciences humaines

Description

The paper is a final report on the archaeological investigation of the Lapita site of Teouma in Central Vanuatu. The excavation at the Teouma site yielded a significant amount of Lapita and Erueti pottery, obsidian flakes, faunal material, and other artifacts. The project received funding from the Pacific Biological Foundation and the Australian National University. The excavation was visited by over 1000 local schoolchildren, and several school groups participated in screening the backdirt from the quarry site. Ongoing analysis includes faunal analysis, study of human remains, preliminary study of pottery, and analysis of obsidian. Radiocarbon dating has been conducted on some samples. The Teouma site has the potential to provide a detailed picture of the earliest phase of human settlement on Efate and contribute to understanding the initial human colonization of Remote Oceania.

Keywords

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Spriggs, Matthew

Contributors

Sources
Final Report to the Pacific Biological Foundation. Typescript, on file Vanuatu National Library, 12pp

Relation

Coverage
Teouma, Central Vanuatu, Remote Oceania

Name of newspaper