THE 2008-2009 EXCAVATIONS AT THE SAC LOCALITY, REBER-RAKIVAL LAPITA SITE, WATOM ISLAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Authors

  • Peter Petchey Otago University
  • Hallie Buckley Otago University
  • Richard Walter Otago University
  • Dimitri Anson Otago University
  • Rebecca Kinaston Otago University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7152/jipa.v40i0.14928

Abstract

The Reber-Rakival site on Watom Island is of particular significance, as it is the first place where what is now known as Lapita pottery was found, by a German missionary in 1909. It is also significant as a Lapita-era burial site, although there has been much debate about the exact relationship between the burials and the Lapita occupation. In 2008 and 2009 an Otago University/Otago Museum/Papua New Guinea expedition carried out new excavations at the SAC site in Rakival Village, in order to increase the sample size of both burials and ceramics, and to address some of the ogoing debates. The expedition found more burials, Lapita ceramics and associated artefactual material, and while it confirmed the relationship between the burials and the Lapita occupation, it also found that previous excavations had not reached the base of the site, and evidence of human occuption was found up to 0.8m deeper than previously known.

 

Based on this work, a refined stratigraphic sequence is presented, with 7 layers replacing the old 4 zone model that has been used to date. This paper presents the description and interpretation of the SAC locatily at Watom, and provides a basis for other more specialist papers that are in preparation.

Author Biographies

Peter Petchey, Otago University

Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Otago University.

Hallie Buckley, Otago University

Associate Professor, Anatomy Department.

Richard Walter, Otago University

Professor, Department of Anthropology & Archaeology

Dimitri Anson, Otago University

Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Anthropology & Archaeology

Rebecca Kinaston, Otago University

Research Fellow

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Published

2016-06-15

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Articles