Lapita find could spark more exploration in Fiji's north

A chance find of Lapita pottery in Fiji's north last month is expected to spark further interest in the ancient people who settled islands in the Pacific.

An example of Lapita pottery [Credit: RNZ/Veronika Meduna]

Archaeologists came across a decorated shard on the coast of Bua province on the island of Vanua Levu and they expect there is more to be found.

A field officer with the Fiji Museum, Sepeti Matararaba, who was involved in the dig, said the pottery fragments were about 3000 years old.

Mr Matararaba said Bua was one of the last remaining areas of Fiji which had not been explored for Lapita remnants.

"We still have a lot to do on Vanua Levu. I think this will really put foreign scholars on alert. You know they can come to Fiji to do research work and find more archaeological sites that contain Lapita pottery."

Source: Radio New Zealand [February 04, 2016]