IARII
carried out field survey, test excavations, and associated laboratory analyses
to identify and evaluate archaeological resources for the Koniambo Project,
a proposed industrial development in the Northern Province of New Caledonia.
Plans for mitigation are currently underway.
Our research found traces of the first human settlement
in the region, relating to people who made and used a variety of sophisticated
pottery known as Lapita, dated about 1100 to 750 B.C.
Our
research also showed a significant change in relative sea level since the
time when people first arrived in New Caledonia. In the region of the Koniambo
Project, the earliest settlements were two small villages located on the
coasts of offshore islets. Over time, the islets joined to form a contiguous
peninsula, covered with more numerous and larger village complexes. 
The survey crew found traces of old
house mounds on the mountain ridges inland of Pouembout. The field survey
brought together members of the Département Archéologie
(David Baret and André John Ouétcho, shown on left) and
members of the Oundjo Tribe (Serge Techaounyane and Georges Poaracagu,
shown on right).
Mike
Carson carefully examined the stratigraphy exposed in each archaeological
test unit in the Vavouto area. The different layers tell the story of significant
changes in the natural environment and the kinds of human activities that
took place here over the past 3,000 to 3,500 years.
New Caledonia
Mike T. Carson, PhD., directs IARII's archaeological investigations in New Caledonia.
OTHER RECENT PROJECTS:
Ecuador | American Samoa
| Palau
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