Impacts of volcanism on pre-European inhabitants of Taveuni, Fiji

Abstract

Taveuni is a Fijian ocean-island volcano that sporadically erupted throughout the Holocene. The 437-km 2 island is an active monogenetic volcanic field with a constantly shifting locus of activity along a single apparent rift axis. Although the eruptions were not large (^VEI 2), unexpected shifts in Taveuni volcanism had the potential to affect habitation sites. Since known human settlement of the Fiji Group (ca. 950±750 BC), there have been at least 58 eruptions on Taveuni. Up to 25 of these eruptions potentially affected pre-European inhabitants of the island and at least four former occupation sites are known to have been affected by volcanic products. Despite apparent earliest settlement of Taveuni post-dating other nearby islands by up to 600 years, volcanism probably did not hinder or stall settlement of Taveuni compared with neighbouring islands. However, a period of voluminous eruptions between 300 and 500 AD covered much of south Taveuni with lava and/or thick tephra, apparently causing abandonment of at least this portion of Taveuni until approximately 1100 AD. Most eruptions were not of catastrophic proportions and, due to their localised effects, re-settlement was rapid in marginal unaffected areas. Localised stories and a relict place name survive to describe former eruption locations and effects since approximately 120±320 AD. Knowledge of the impacts on Taveuni's past inhabitants forms the basis of volcanic disastermitigation strategies to minimise future effects on the current 14,500 residents.

Holocene volcanic geology, volcanic hazard, and risk on Taveuni, Fiji

“…Hazards of tephras on Taveuni relate to the impact of large clasts on humans, livestock, and crops, as well as fires started by large clasts that may still be hot (e.g., Cronin & Neall 2000). Collapse of house and shelter roofs is often implicated as the major threat to life during tephra falls (Blong 1984).…”

Geological histories and geohazard potential of Pacific Islands illuminated by myths

“…Traditional stories, passed down through the generations orally, were recorded by many of the first non-Pacific Islander (European) visitors to the region. Although the value of such myths in reconstructing cultural histories in the region has been vigorously debated (Malinowski 1954: Maude 1971: Gunson 1993, there seems to be considerable merit in using carefully-chosen myths to illuminate post-seulement geological histories (Vitaliano 1973: Cronin & Neall 2000Nunn 2001Nunn , 2003.…”

Aspects of Armageddon: An exploration of the role of volcanic eruptions in human history and civilization

“…A study of the pre-European settlers of the Fijian island of Taveuni, which contains over 150 scoria cones (Cronin and Neall, 2000) suggests that the inhabitants were exposed to 28 moderate (VEI p2) volcanic eruptions. A series of eruptions that occurred between 300 and 500 AD, did cover much of the southern part of the island in lavas and thick blankets of tephra, resulting in the apparent abandonment of the affected areas for several hundred years, but elsewhere on the island settlement was continuous with no sign in the available records for stress-induced change.…”