Abstract:
Ceramics were initially introduced to the islands of the Western Pacific between 3400 and 2800 years ago. They were subsequently lost from the archaeological record and were not found at the time of European contact (c.1600AD) on all islands. The timing of this change in material culture can be estimated using radiocarbon dates from known ceramic and non-ceramic contexts. Losing ceramic technology changes the food-culture of an island. It is hypothesised that this change can be investigated by analysing food-related technologies. Functional attributes of ceramics and pit features are used to investigate the proposed change in food culture. The loss of ceramics on the Reef Islands is compared to the continued ceramic production on Waya Island, Fiji. Ceramic collections and site records for the Reef Island sites of SE-RF-2 (Nenumbo) and SE-RF-19 (Ngatoponu) and Waya Island sites Y2-25 (Olo) and Y2-39 (Qaranicagi Cave) were available for analysis from the University of Auckland. The dates of ceramic loss do not form a recognisable geographic or temporal pattern that could be explained by a single factor. The results of the ceramic analysis indicate changes in ceramics in the Reef Islands prior to ceramic loss, and continual changes on Waya Island. A new method of pit classification was trialled for SE-RF-2 and Y2-39, and confirmed to be adequate, but dependent on the level of detail recorded in site plans and records. Understanding when and where this change in material culture occurs is the first step to understanding the disappearance of ceramics and the development of Western Pacific food-culture. This research provides an example of how changes in food-related technologies can be used to understand the process of food-culture change. KEYWORDS: WAYA ISLAND, YASAWA ISLANDS, FIJI, REEF ISLANDS, NGANGAUA, LOMLOM, SOLOMON ISLANDS, CERAMICS, FOOD CULTURE, OVEN, HEARTH, PIT, FIRE-CRACKED-ROCKS, WESTERN PACIFIC, TECHNOLOGY
