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Human occupations of caves of the Rove Peninsula, Southwest Viti Levu Island, Fiji

Nunn, Patrick D. and Pene, Conway and Matararaba, S. and Kumar, Roselyn R.D. and Singh, Preetika and Dredregasa, Ilaisa and Gwilliam, Marian and Heorake, Tony and Kuilanisautabu, Ledua T. and Nakoro, Elia R. and Narayan, Lawrence R. and Pastorizo, M.R. and Robinson, Stephine and Saunivalu, Petero M. and Tamani, Faye R. (2005) Human occupations of caves of the Rove Peninsula, Southwest Viti Levu Island, Fiji. The South Pacific Journal of Natural Sciences, 23 (1). pp. 16-21. ISSN 1013-9877

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Abstract

Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapita-era (1150-750 BC) sites dating from the earliest period of Fiji’s human history have been found, was undertaken by a team from the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Museum. Surface collection and excavation in the largest cave – Qaranibourewa – was hindered by large amounts of ceiling collapse and no trace of human occupation earlier than about AD 1000 was found. The second-largest cave – Qaramatatolu – had a cave fill 190 cm thick but this was determined to be all of recent origin, having accumulated as a result of being washed down through a hole in the cave roof from a settlement above that probably existed AD 750-1250. The shell faunal remains from the Qaramatatolu excavation all suggest an open-coast location, quite different from the mangrove forest that fronts the area today. This mangrove forest probably formed only within the last few hundred years.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
Divisions: Office of the PVC (R&I)
Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Geography, Earth Science and Environment
Depositing User: Ms Mereoni Camailakeba
Date Deposited: 20 Apr 2005 05:17
Last Modified: 16 Jul 2012 08:13
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/3390
UNSPECIFIED

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