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

10. PROJECT CONDITIONS
Please show this section to your physician when he/she is completing your health statement. Be sure to discuss inoculation
requirements with your physician well in advance of your departure date. See Section 11 ‘Health Information’ for inoculation
information.
To the examining physician:
Your patient has volunteered to join a field research team that has specific physical demands of which you and
your patient should be aware. We need your accurate evaluation of your patient’s ability to meet the conditions
detailed below in order to safeguard his/her health and safety and ensure that he/she can participate fully and
effectively.
General Conditions of the Research Site
The altitude of the research area ranges from sea level to 50 feet/15 meters. It is likely to be hot and humid at this
time of year. There won’t be much shade, though excavation will be carried out beneath tarps. Dehydration is
possible, and frequent rest and constant hydration are extremely important. It is critical that you bring a broadbrimmed
hat to keep the sun off your head as well as high-factor sun block to prevent burning. Sunglasses are
also strongly recommended.
Cyclones very rarely hit the south coast of Viti Levu Island, where the Rove Peninsula is located, but the teams do
operate during Fiji’s cyclone season (November to April). Should a cyclone or tropical storm develop, fieldwork
will stop temporarily and the team will gather in the Vusama Community Hall to wait it out. It is imperative that
volunteers remain indoors and follow all instructions from project staff.
January/February Conditions
Humidity 70% to 85%
Temperature range 75°F/24°C to 95°F/35°C
Rainfall 0-10 in/0-25 cm per month
Physical Demands
Volunteers of differing physical abilities can be accommodated within most research activities. It will be
necessary to carry some equipment and supplies, but this is a shared task and there is no minimum requirement.
On most excavation days, volunteers will walk no more than about 0.5 miles as the team will be working at a
fixed location. However, during the survey and surface collection (reconnaissance) activities, you may choose to
walk up to five miles a day (optional). During excavation, volunteers will be required to take turns excavating
(generally using a small trowel) as well as filling buckets with soil, lifting and pouring them onto the sieves and
shaking the sieves. In addition to the project’s physical demands, you should also be psychologically prepared to
experience a culture very different from your own. Most foreign visitors to Fiji cope very well with this, find it
interesting and stimulating, and end up having a fulfilling experience that stays with them for a lifetime.
Below are the expected demands of the project, but please keep in mind that conditions may change and the
project could potentially be more or less strenuous than the chart indicates.
Activity Workload/Intensity
Sitting/Digging 0-6 hours per day on 12 days
Bending/Sieving 1-7 hours per day on 10 days
Walking 0-7 hours per day on 4 days
Carrying Light backpack while walking for 0-7 hours per day on 4 days; project equipment (however
much you can manage) for 30 minutes per day on 12 days
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