A multidisciplinary approach for dating human colonization of Pacific atolls

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dc.contributor.authorWeisler, MIen_AU
dc.contributor.authorYamano, Hen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHua, Qen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2021-07-28T01:56:25Zen_AU
dc.date.available2021-07-28T01:56:25Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2012-03-29en_AU
dc.date.statistics2021-07-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe timing of reef platform emergence and the detailed chronology of reef island development provides a powerful backdrop for constraining the earliest period possible for prehistoric human colonization of low-lying atolls. Since Pacific atolls consist of biogenetic sediments, we dated foraminifera sands composed of well-preserved shallow-water species that are reliable indicators of facies formation. From transect excavations across the largest islet of Utrōk Atoll (11°13’N, 169°50’E) and Maloelap Atoll (8°47’N, 171°05’E), Marshall Islands, we selected nine foraminifera dating samples and five charcoal samples from prehistoric ovens in well-defined cultural layers and charcoal from buried A horizons. We document that: 1) the largest islets of Utrōk and Maloelap atolls expanded towards the lagoon shore at a rate of ∼70 m/kyr and ∼200m/kyr, respectively; 2) foraminifera sands immediately below buried A horizons in the islet's “core” areas represents the timing of islet development at ∼2750 and ∼2400 cal BP, respectively; and 3) the oldest cultural dates (1850 and 1790 cal BP, ∼900–600 years younger than islet development) indicates that occupation much older than 2000 cal BP is unlikely, which is supported by sea level falling from its high stands to the present levels around 2000 cal BP for the northwestern Pacific. © 2012 Informa UK Limiteden_AU
dc.identifier.citationWeisler, M. I., Yamano, H., & Hua, Q. (2012). A multidisciplinary approach for dating human colonization of Pacific atolls. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 7(1), 102-125. doi:10.1080/15564894.2011.616923en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1556-1828en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleThe Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination102-125en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2011.616923en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/11132en_AU
dc.identifier.volume7en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_AU
dc.subjectPacific Oceanen_AU
dc.subjectMarshall Islandsen_AU
dc.subjectMicronesiaen_AU
dc.subjectHuman populationsen_AU
dc.subjectForaminiferaen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectroscopyen_AU
dc.titleA multidisciplinary approach for dating human colonization of Pacific atollsen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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