Dating Lapita Pottery in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea

摘要: Prehistoric sites with pottery known as Lapita have been the focus of archaeological attention in western Pacific for more than thirty years. For much this time main concern has relationship between and origin spread people who were ancestors Polynesians. Whereas Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea appears record many millennia after first human entry into region, Western Polynesia--and possibly also Caledonia Vanuatu--the carriers users appear to humans colonize these island groups. Kirch Hunt (1988a:161), expansion pottery-using from Samoa "may be among most rapid dispersal events prehistory." As Spriggs (1990:17) noted, claim warrants further assessment. The reliable dating is thus important because changes its chronology may affect interpretations nature speed throughout southwestern Pacific. (1988a) accept a date cal. 3550 B.P. appearance propose that it extremely rapidly Bismarck Archipelago Polynesia, no statistically significant difference northern southern sites. (1990) prefers slightly later starting 3450 sees earlier those south, allowing Anson's (1986) "Far Lapita" developmental stage decorative system Archipelago. two derives primarily Spriggs's critical assessment dated samples. He rejects several undemonstrated or doubtful association samples occupations, particular five earliest on which base their chronology. Both papers, however, are concerned distribution do not examine closely any one area. This paper addresses issues (Fig. 1), widely regarded "homeland" pottery, whence knowledge skills production carried south east, eventually Polynesia (e.g., Allen 1984, 1991; Green 1979; 1984). [Figure 1 ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] aim assess evidence introduction However, cannot separated either physically conceptually found other artifactual elements Taken together, included artifacts raise questions meaning phenomenon terms. We feel new dates presented here, when set context existing throw light whether them intrusive indicative population movements region. return at end article. present 24 (Appendix 1) dentate-stamped stratigraphic contexts bearing appearance, West Britain Province, Guinea. compare archipelago suggest possible. First, if accepted by valid, begun Mussau Britain. Alternatively, supported, started calibrated 3450-3550 (Allen White 1989; 1979:32-34; 1988a, 1988b; et al. 1990). …