Fiji's Ancient Seafarers Dr. Patrick D. Nunn - Earthwatch Institute

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Cultural Environment Most of the Rove Peninsula is freehold land, and some is owned by the handful of Indo-Fijian farmers who work parts of it. The area around Vusama Village is native land (as is 85% of all land in Fiji), owned by the resident Fijian families of Vusama who also claim traditional title to the entire peninsula. The Indo-Fijians and the Fijians in this area get along very well, and the research team always makes sure to acknowledge both the legal and the traditional claims to areas where research is being conducted. In general, the people of Fiji are polite, helpful, conservative and religious. Everyone in the area speaks English to some extent, but many villagers are shy about their English speaking skills and are more comfortable speaking with an individual rather than a group. The research team includes many English speakers who also speak Fijian and Fiji Hindi fluently, so communication will not present a problem. All children learn English at school and typically lack the adults’ inhibition in speaking it. There are a number of village customs and protocols that should be observed, but at the same time the Fijian people are generally tolerant and understand that foreigners are not always familiar with these; lapses are tolerated good-naturedly as long as visitors show a willingness to learn and respect the local customs. Please be aware that gender interactions in rural Fiji are different compared to those in most Western countries. In particular, males and females have separate and well-defined roles and do not generally mix in social settings. Volunteers will not be expected to adopt these behaviors, but should be aware that certain interactions may be misinterpreted. Additionally, talking loudly, swearing, and standing up straight when people are sitting are all frowned upon. While in the village (not at the research site), it is important that team members cover their legs and shoulders, especially females. Hats should not be worn in villages, nor should anything be carried on the shoulder when it could be carried nearer the ground. The village also has specific protocols regarding houses. For example, there are commonly three doors and only one of these should be used, at least at first. While there will often be sofas and soft chairs, most people sit on mats on the floor. You should be able to sit comfortably on the floor for extended periods of time while socializing and during meal times, either with your legs crossed or tucked behind you. You may wish to bring a soft cushion to sit on. Even if your hosts insist that you use a chair, please follow their lead and sit on the floor in order to avoid mistakenly setting up a social hierarchy. Shoes are never worn inside houses and must be left by the door. Sundays are rest days, and volunteers are advised to bring one nicer set of clothing in order to attend morning church. You are encouraged but not required to attend church services, which serve as community get-togethers in rural Fiji. Please note that alcohol cannot be consumed anywhere on the Rove Peninsula, and you should be prepared to go 15 days without it. Any members of the research team (Earthwatch volunteers or others) found consuming alcohol during the expedition will be dismissed at once. However, you will be encouraged to drink kava (or yaqona), the traditional beverage of Fiji. Kava is made from the pounded roots of a locally grown pepper plant. It is non-alcoholic, but is a mild soporific and relaxant that is gaining popularity worldwide as a natural stress reducer. You might experience a slightly numb or tingling tongue from drinking kava, which is also referred to as “grog” by some locals. There are no restrictions on smoking tobacco, though smokers should be prepared to share their cigarettes! 5
3. PROJECT STAFF Principal Investigator Patrick D. Nunn has been a Professor of Oceanic Geoscience at the University of the South Pacific (USP) for more than 12 years. He has also taught at universities in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the US. He has been carrying out research into the geology, geography and archaeology of the Pacific Islands region for more than 20 years and is the author of more than 180 professional papers and book chapters, and several books including Oceanic Islands (1994, Blackwell), Environmental Change in the Pacific Basin (1999, Wiley), Climate, Environment and Society in the Pacific during the Last Millennium (2007, Elsevier), and most recently the popular Vanished Islands and Hidden Continents of the Pacific (August 2008, University of Hawaii Press). In March 2003, Nunn was awarded the Gregory Medal of the Pacific Science Association for “outstanding service to science in the Pacific.” He speaks the Fijian language fluently and is well versed in traditional Fijian customs. He has directed all six phases of geoarchaeological research on the Rove Peninsula. Field Team Leaders / Deputy Principal Investigators Roselyn Kumar is a Doctoral Research Fellow in the Pacific Institute for Advanced Studies at USP. She has a B.A. degree in Geography and Earth Sciences and an M.Sc. in Earth Sciences, focused on the mineralogy of ancient pottery in Fiji and how this can be used to determine areas of pottery manufacture, and thereby trace ancient migration routes. She has written or co-written 21 professional papers. Kumar is Fijian-Indian by ethnicity and speaks Fiji Hindi and English fluently. She has worked on 11 geoarchaeological research projects to date, including all six phases of fieldwork on the Rove Peninsula. Sepeti Matararaba is Principal Archaeologist at the Fiji Museum and has more than 30 years of field experience in archaeological research and the collection of oral traditions in Fiji. He has co-authored more than 45 professional articles and appears regularly on Fiji television and radio discussing Fiji prehistory. He is Fijian by ethnicity and speaks fluent Fijian and English. He has worked on all six phases of fieldwork on the Rove Peninsula. Associate Researchers The researchers listed below will assist with the project in a variety of ways. Their research specialties/responsibilities are included in parentheses. In addition to these researchers, there will be 6-10 undergraduate and/or graduate students from USP. • Valerie Campbell, M.Sc., Adjunct Researcher, USP (stone-tool analysis) • Michael Carson, Ph.D., International Archaeological Research Institute, Honolulu (GIS mapping and archaeology) • Gennady Gienko, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Geographical Information Systems, USP (GPS survey) • Tomo Ishimura, Ph.D., Researcher, Nara Institute for Cultural Properties, Japan (pottery analysis, excavation) • Ledua Kuilanisautabu, B.A., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (shell analysis) • Kirti Lal, B.Sc., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (sediments and paleogeography) • Fred Pearl, Ph.D., Professor of Archaeology, Texas A&M University, Galveston (archaeology and ceramics) • Kalivati Qolicokota, B.A., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (Fiji history and language) • Arishma Ram, B.Sc, Graduate Research Assistant, USP (shell analysis) • Johnson Seeto, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Marine Studies, USP (shell and marine bone analysis) • Lisa-Marie Shillito, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Reading, UK (soil and phytolith analysis) • Shalni Sanjana (Poonam), B.A., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (shell analysis) • Mark Stephens, Ph.D., Lecturer in Physical Geography, USP (sediments and geoarchaeology) • Katherine Szabó, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Australian National University (shell ornament analysis) • Tammy Tabe, B.A., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (marine archaeology) • Frank Thomas, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer in Pacific Studies, USP (shell analysis) • Marianne Turner, Ph.D., Lecturer in Archaeology, University of Auckland (stone tool analysis) • Amele Vosamosi, B.A., Graduate Research Assistant, USP (geoarchaeology) 6
Page 1 and 2: 2009 Earthwatch. 2009 EXPEDITION BR
Page 3 and 4: Dear Earthwatcher, Welcome to Earth
Page 5 and 6: Fiji’s Ancient Seafarers Table of
Page 7 and 8: VOLUNTEER FORMS All Earthwatch expe
Page 9: THE EXPEDITION 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW
Page 13 and 14: DAILY LIFE IN THE FIELD 4. VOLUNTEE
Page 15 and 16: Days 9-14 (Monday-Saturday) These d
Page 17 and 18: Below are examples of the foods you
Page 19 and 20: closely and in the event that the s
Page 21 and 22: 10. PROJECT CONDITIONS Please show
Page 23 and 24: 11. HEALTH INFORMATION See www.inte
Page 25 and 26: Essential Items Make sure to bring
Page 27 and 28: • STA Travel (UK): http://www.sta
Page 29 and 30: The earliest occupation at Bourewa
Page 31 and 32: Objective 5: Excavate cave sediment
Page 33 and 34: Nunn, P.D. 2005. Reconstructing tro
Page 35: Personal Supplies Note: Linens and

Fiji's Ancient Seafarers Dr. Patrick D. Nunn - Earthwatch Institute

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