The annual ANU-Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC) Fieldschool returned in July to the Pangpang area, on the east coast of Efate Island. This followed on from initial survey and testing at the site in 2022 and the Fieldschool of last year. In 2023 the focus was defining the Lapita occupation at an area known as Etok and the preliminary testing of what appeared to be a massive midden mound at Melabong. Extinct tortoise bone, exotic New Britain obsidian and decorated Lapita pottery sherds all pointed to the Etok site as being an early colonising site. There was also widespread evidence of continued occupation in the general area up to the present.
Co-ordinated by CHL Associate Professor Dr Stuart Bedford, along with colleagues from the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Iarawai Phillip and Makaras Longga, the fieldschool was run over two weeks at the start of a 4-week period of excavation in July at various sites in the area. Other specialists who joined the 16 ANU students (Figure 1) included Drs Frédérique Valentin (CNRS, France) and Stuart Hawkins (ANU). Robert Henderson an ANU PhD student ran the on-site analytical station.
Research in 2024 was concentrated in three areas at Pangpang, namely Melabong, Emir and Merivau. Melabong is an enormous (80 x 40m and more than 4m high) midden mound that dates to c. 2800-2700 BP located parallel to the river. Excavations in 2024 confirmed its extent and composition. Two 2 x 2m testpits were excavated to define these attributes. Only TP 2 was completed at a depth of 3.2m where sterile beach sand was encountered. It provides a remarkable sample of material from this period, deeply stratified and well-preserved. Dr Bedford noted that these sorts of features have been found elsewhere in association with Lapita or very early settlements. “They have been found on Erromango, at the site of Ifo, at the sites of Marsaille and Lowenpakel in north Tanna and Mafilau on Epi. They are totally artificial and comprise only of midden that has been dumped by communities over generations. It seems that when people first arrived they lived in very close proximity, in large settlements where they may have cooked and eaten together communally. Lots of rubbish would have been generated and was dumped in the same area over may years creating the large mounds”.
The excavations at Melabong recovered large quantities of Erueti-style pottery dating to 2800-2600 years ago. Some large sherds were recovered which provide new insights into the Erueti period. Most of the large mound though is comprised of fire-cracked coral cooking stone but also marine shell and animal bone.
Flotation was a key aspect in the recovery of archaeobotanical remains undertaken on site in 2024. It was led by student Natasha Lyall who will analyse the recovered material for a subsequent research project. A control square (1 x 1m) was totally sieved in water to recover the tiniest bones, artefacts and charcoal. A total of 1.5cm2 was sieved with various teams of assistants over the two weeks.
The two other areas of focus were Emir and Merivau, both associated with burial areas. The Emir site was identified by local Chiefs as a place where they understood burials had been located. Flat coral slabs have been placed in various alignments on the ground surface. Test excavations led by Dr Frédérique Valentin (CNRS, France) revealed the location of four burials likely to date to the last 400 years. All were recorded in detail in situ and reburied. The research provides key insights into ceremonial activity that pre-dates European arrival. The historic mission cemetery of Merivau was also cleared and recorded in detail revealing a total of 95 graves most dating to the late 19th century. This cemetery supplies a snapshot of the radial depopulation and major shift in settlement patterns that occurred across Vanuatu in the 19th century.
Summing up Bedford emphasised the importance of “the wonderful embracing community of Pangpang with their enthusiasm for the project, their full participation in excavations, the great food prepared by the Mama’s from Zone 1 to 4 and of course the excellent local kava. This it turns out is in fact one of the real highlights for the students being housed in the village and interacting with the community over their stay, eating different food and experiencing a very different cultural scene”. Chiefs Tarpuelepul David, Matthew Kaltake, Donald Kaltake and Freddy Boblang and the Village Council were crucial for the success of the research.
Roll on 2025 for the next chapter of ANU archaeological engagement with Vanuatu.
24 окт 2024
