
%0 Journal Article
%A Nunn, P D 
%A Pene, C 
%A Matararaba, S 
%A Kumar, R 
%A Singh, P 
%A Dredregasa, I 
%A Gwilliam, M 
%A Heorake, T 
%A Kuilanisautabu, L 
%A Nakoro, E 
%A Narayan, L 
%A Pastorizo, M R 
%A Robinson, S 
%A Saunivalu, P 
%A Tamani, F 
%T Human occupations of caves of the Rove peninsula, southwest Viti Levu island, Fiji
%J The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences
%D 2005/12/15
%V 23
%N 1
%P 16-21
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/SP05003
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/SP05003 
%X Geoarchaeological investigations of limestone caves along the Rove Peninsula, where several Lapita-era (1150-750 BC) sites dating from the earliest period of Fiji’s human history have been found, was undertaken by a team from the University of the South Pacific and the Fiji Museum. Surface collection and excavation in the largest cave &#8211; Qaranibourewa &#8211; was hindered by large amounts of ceiling collapse and no trace of human occupation earlier than about AD 1000 was found. The second-largest cave – Qaramatatolu – had a cave fill 190 cm thick but this was determined to be all of recent origin, having accumulated as a result of being washed down through a hole in the cave roof from a settlement above that probably existed AD 750-1250. The shell faunal remains from the Qaramatatolu excavation all suggest an open-coast location, quite different from the mangrove forest that fronts the area today. This mangrove forest probably formed only within the last few hundred years. 
