Post on 14-Dec-2015
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.