The Australian National University-Vanuatu Cultural Centre Archaeology Project, 1994-97: Aims and results

Despite an intensive period of research in Vanuatu during the 1960s and 197 0s, a number of basic questions regarding the archaeology of the islands re mained largely unanswered. The Australian National University-Vanuatu Cultu ral Centre Archaeological Project began in 1994, and was established in an attempt to address some of these questions. Research has been carried out o n the islands of Malakula, Efate and Erromango, and has concentrated on est ablishing cultural sequences for the different islands. The evidence collec ted thus far overwhelmingly indicates that the islands were initially colon ised some 3000 years ago by Lapita settlers. Dentate-stamped Lapita ceramic s arrived with the initial colonisers and the ceramic traditions that follo wed evolved from the Lapita tradition. A more technical report on the 1993- 97 work has recently been published (Bedford ct al. 1998) and includes full reporting of radiocarbon dates on which the chronologies presented here ar e based. The project has also included intensive archaeological field-train ing of Cultural Centre staff and fieldworkers. This has proved invaluable w here fieldworkers are able to heighten local awareness and understanding of archaeological remains.