Select your language
Select your language
The paper focuses on the archaeology of Northern Vanuatu and its role as a crossroads between other archipelagoes in the Western Pacific. The authors are conducting a research project funded by the Australian Research Council to study the initial human colonization and cultural transformations in the region. The paper addresses the cultural diversity of Northern Vanuatu, highlighting both the unity and diversity in language, social structure, architecture, and other cultural phenomena. The accounts of early European explorers and anthropologists have influenced the perceptions and context of contemporary researchers in Pacific Studies, including archaeologists. The paper also mentions a debate regarding Lapita settlement and inter-archipelagic interaction in the region, with opposing views held by the authors. The authors aim to confirm the widespread nature of Lapita settlement and identify empirical evidence for inter-archipelagic interaction in Northern Vanuatu. The paper highlights the need for further research in Northern Vanuatu and the Solomons chain to fill the gaps in understanding the historical development of exchange systems and cultural change in the region.