New digital archaeological research reveals first Pacific cities founded in 300 A.D.

A new digital archaeological study reveals the existence of the first Pacific cities on the island of Tongatapu, founded in 300 A.D., highlighting the importance of data obtained through the use of LIDAR technology

A new study using LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, reveals new evidence that the first Pacific cities were established in 300 A.D., 700 years earlier.

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the location of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. The earliest traces of human settlement date between 900 and 850 B.C. The island has the highest concentration of archaeological sites, including the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui trilithon, ancient burial mounds and the Papae ‘o Tele’a Tombs.

Tongatapu was first sighted by Europeans in 1643, and the first direct contact between islanders and Europeans occurred during Captain James Cook’s voyage on the British ship Resolution in 1773.

Cook’s journals describe a densely developed landscape with a transportation network linking dwellings across the island

The island of Tongatapu in Tonga was mapped using data recorded from an aerial LIDAR survey and ground surveys.

The map reveals an urbanized landscape of clusters of earth mounds connected by a transportation network that matches Cook’s descriptions.

New and existing archaeological evidence and observations made by early Europeans have shown that many mounds served as house foundations.

The study’s lead author, PhD student Phillip Parton from the Australian National University (ANU), said: “Earthen structures were being built at Tongatapu around 300 A.D. This is 700 years earlier than previously thought.”

“As settlements have grown, they have had to find new ways to support growing populations. This kind of structuring, called low-density urbanization, drives huge social and economic change. People are interacting more and doing different work,” Parton added.

According to Parton, the collapse of this type of low-density urbanization was mainly due to the arrival of Europeans.

Source: Newsroom