DFL Field Trip to Teouma Lapita Archaeological Site

Tuesday 10 August 2004

Geography, History and Sociology Students went.

Upon arrival the group is met by Richard Shing who briefly explains the work of archaeologists, Lapita and this

particular site.

The site at Shark Bay, Teouma. The first sherd of Lapita was unearthed by a

bulldozer driver

A Lapita SherdLapita pottery is the oldest known pottery manufactured by early settlers in Oceania. From a south east direction out of

SE Asia, the movement of people travelled through Melanesia and into Polynesia.

Notice the stamped design. A usual design was faces, like this one.

Bone expert and field worker work on buried skeletons. 2 skulls are buried together. Not much is known about burial rites and practices as this is

the first burial of Lapita potters found.

First skull being removed

Another skeleton. Notice crossed legs. The burials found were not too deep as soil at that time was not deep. Notice the skeleton lying on top of the

coral limestone.

Richard explaining that it is unknown why this

person was buried this way

From this trench, the archaeologist picks out more Lapita sherds as the girls look on

Students listen on…

View from possible ancient seashore. Early settlers always chose a site that was close to fresh

water and a sheltered harbour.

A busy site

A busy fieldworker shovelling the dirt

A young fieldworker washing dug out shells

The ladies work on freeing the last skull

Skull removed and packaged for later examination

Archaeologist Matthew Spriggs explaining to students and visitors

Back to campus after a brief visit to life 3200 years ago.