A History of Research of the Neolithic Necropolis at Teouma (Efate, Vanuatu)
Abstract
The article presents the results of the long-term research on the archaeological site of Teouma (Efate Island, Vanuatu). The necropolis belongs to the Lapita cultural tradition (3000–2650 cal. BP). The history of the site’s discovery in 2003 and its investigation for over six field seasons are examined. In total, researchers excavated 275 sq. m, revealing 68 burial complexes containing the remains of more than 100 individuals. Stratigraphic and planimetric data are provided, allowing for an assessment of the site’s complex nature. The assemblage of ornamented pottery, the semantics of its motifs, and the role of ritual ceramic vessels in the burial ritual of the Lapita people are analyzed. The evolution of the mortuary ritual is presented: from a multi-stage process of burying a deceased person (handling remains, collective burials, cremation) during the Lapita period to individual, undisturbed burials without grave goods in the Erueti phase. Data of radiocarbon, isotopic, and paleogenetic analyses are presented, which allow us to trace the presence/absence of the “Polynesian motif” (B4a1a1a haplogroup) and propose a hypothesis regarding the Taiwanese origin of the first settlers. The unique character of the site for reconstructing the early stages of the settlement of Oceania, inter-island connections, and the social structure of the Lapita people is emphasized. The evidence from the Teouma necropolis allow tracing changes in the burial practices and cultural shifts over several centuries.