Mounds of History: Unveiling Vanuatu’s Past

Field school participants and local crew, Melabong Mound 2024
Field school participants and local crew, Melabong Mound 2024

The annual ANU-Vanuatu Cultural Centre (VCC) Fieldschool made its much-anticipated return to the Pangpang area on Efate Island's east coast this July. Building on the groundwork laid during the initial surveys and testing in 2022 and last year’s field school. In 2023, the focus was defining the Lapita occupation at an area known as Etok and the preliminary testing of what appeared to be a massive midden mound at Melabong. Extinct tortoise bone, exotic New Britain obsidian and decorated Lapita pottery sherds all confirmed that Etok was an early colonising site. There was also widespread evidence of continued occupation in the general area up to the present adding to the multi-layered historical significance of the area.
 

Exploring History Together: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Led by Associate Professor Dr. Stuart Bedford from the ANU School of Culture, History & Language and Vanuatu Cultural Centre colleagues Iarawai Phillip and Makaras Longga, the field school kicked off a four-week excavation period in July. For the first two weeks, 16 eager ANU students were immersed in hands-on archaeological exploration across various local sites. They were joined by experts such as Drs. Frédérique Valentin from CNRS, France, and Stuart Hawkins from ANU, with ANU PhD student Robert Henderson managing the on-site analytical station. This dynamic team collaborated closely, bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives to uncover the region's rich history.

Layers of Discovery: Archaeological Hotspots 2024

Research in 2024 focused on three main areas at Pangpang: Melabong, Emir, and Merivau.

Melabong is an impressive midden mound, measuring 80 by 40 meters and standing over 4 meters high, dating back to approximately 2800-2700 BP. Situated parallel to the river, the 2024 excavations aimed to explore its vast extent and composition. Two 2x2 meter test pits were dug, with one reaching a depth of 3.2 meters before hitting sterile beach sand. Only TP 2 was completed at a depth of 3.2m where sterile beach sand was encountered. It provides a remarkable sample of material from this period, deeply stratified and well-preserved.

Dr Bedford noted that these sorts of features have been found elsewhere in association with Lapita or very early settlements. He explained:

They have been found on Erromango, at the site of Ifo, at the sites of Marsaille and Lowenpakel in north Tanna and Mafilau on Epi. They are totally artificial and comprise only of midden that has been dumped by communities over generations. It seems that when people first arrived, they lived in very close proximity, in large settlements where they may have cooked and eaten together communally. Lots of rubbish would have been generated and was dumped in the same area over may years creating the large mounds.

TP 2, full stratigraphy of the Melabong Mound. Excavators Freddy Tore and Apisai Ilman
TP 2, full stratigraphy of the Melabong Mound. Excavators Freddy Tore and Apisai Ilman

The excavations at Melabong yielded a treasure trove of Erueti-style pottery dating to 2,800-2,600 years ago, with some sizable sherds offering fresh insights into this fascinating period. While much of the mound comprises fire-cracked coral cooking stone, it also includes marine shells and animal bones, hinting at the rich cultural practices of the inhabitants.

Large Early Erueti-style sherd c. 2800 BP
Large Early Erueti-style sherd c. 2800 BP

A key aspect of the 2024 excavations was flotation, which played a crucial role in recovering archaeobotanical remains. Student Natasha Lyall spearheaded this effort, planning to analyse the collected material for a future research project. The team employed a control square (1 x 1m), thoroughly sieving it in water to retrieve even the tiniest bones, artifacts, and charcoal. Over the two-week period, various teams of assistants worked diligently, sifting through a total of 1.5 cm² to ensure nothing was overlooked. This meticulous attention to detail underscores the team's commitment to uncovering the past and enhancing our understanding of the region's historical landscape.

Flotation underway in the Pangpang river. L-R: Locals, Emma Umau, Valetine Gracien, Rose Boblong and ANU students, Ellie Griffin and Natasha Lyall
Flotation underway in the Pangpang river. L-R: Locals, Emma Umau, Valetine Gracien, Rose Boblong and ANU students, Ellie Griffin and Natasha Lyall

The other areas of focus were Emir and Merivau, one a pre-contact shrine, identified by local chiefs, thought also to be associated with burials and the other the first formalised historic cemetery in the area. The Emir site comprises various arrangements of flat coral slabs organised in various alignments on the ground surface. Under the guidance of Dr. Frédérique Valentin (CNRS, France), test excavations uncovered four burials at Emir, likely dating back the last 400 years. Each burial was meticulously recorded in situ before being reburied, preserving the integrity of this important cultural site.
 

Dr Frédérique Valentin provides explanation of the excavations at Emir to local High School students
Dr Frédérique Valentin provides explanation of the excavations at Emir to local High School students

In addition to Emir, the team mapped and recorded the graves at Merivau, which provided further insight into the region's ceremonial practices and burial traditions. Together, these sites contribute valuable knowledge about the local customs and historical shifts that have shaped the area over time.

The research offers valuable insights into ceremonial practices that both pre and post-date European contact in the region. The historic mission cemetery at Merivau, survey revealed a total of 95 graves, most dating back to the late 19th century. This cemetery serves as a critical snapshot of the radial depopulation and the substantial shifts in settlement patterns that swept across Vanuatu during the 19th century.

These discoveries highlight the importance of understanding the region's wider cultural landscape and the profound changes that occurred during this period. The burial sites not only shed light on individual lives but also on broader social dynamics and cultural practices that have shaped the community's history.


Excavating Connections: Community in Focus

In conclusion, Dr. Bedford highlighted the vital role of “the wonderful embracing community of Pangpang with their enthusiasm for the project, their full participation in excavations, the great food prepared by the Mama’s from Zone 1 to 4 and of course the excellent local kava. This, it turns out, is in fact one of the real highlights for the students being housed in the village and interacting with the community over their stay, eating different food and experiencing a very different cultural scene”. The support from Chiefs Tarpuelepul David, Matthew Kaltake, Donald Kaltake, Freddy Boblang, and the Village Council was crucial for the success of the research.

If you want to experience the Pangpang expedition up close, don’t miss this video, filmed onsite!

 

And that’s a wrap. Here’s to 2025—we will await the next chapter of the archaeological journey in Vanuatu to unfold!”

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