Additional U/Th dates for the Lapita settlement of Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga

Abstract

We present three unreported U/Th dates on coral abraders recovered from Lapita occupations at the ‘Otea and Vuna sites, in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga. Integrated with existing radiocarbon and U/Th dates for Vava'u, we also provide a single‐phase Bayesian model for Lapita chronology in these islands.

The Birth of Polynesia: An Archaeological Journey Through the Kingdom of Tonga

“…Three other U/Th measurements on coral files from 'Otea and Vuna subsequently were acquired. Their integration into the model shifted the range to between 901 and 806 BC 15 (Burley et al 2021). In both cases, there is overlap with first occupation in Ha'apai, this occurring between 822 and 766 BC as earlier given.…”