Environmental Impact by the Lapita Expansion
Environmental Impact by the Lapita
Ursula V. P. Belyayeva
Abstract
The Lapita initial expansion was around 3500-3200 BP our goal is to investigate what initiated the expansion of the Lapita people from Near to Remote Oceania. By using push factor, we believe that the push condition was the over intensification of resources due to population pressure, which caused marine, agricultural and fauna depression and initiated the Lapita dispersal. From various archaeological studies, pollen can demonstrate the abundance of vegetation along with taxon verification and the impacts of extensive forest clearance. Terrestrial fauna can support inferences about the environment of the animals themselves and as well as aspects of human impacts on environments. As a group member, I will use pollen to analyze radical or non-radical change in vegetation along with fauna extinction to support inferences about human impacts on the environment.
1. Introduction
Lapita is a term given to an ancient Pacific Oceanic archaeological culture. The Lapita is believed to be a common ancestor of many cultures in Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. The name Lapita comes from a site where pottery was first discovered on the main island of New Caledonia. Likewise, the Lapita people were excellent navigators from South East Asia. They explored vast new territories in Oceania. They left behind extensive material culture such as pottery, fish hooks, and other tools. They also left behind evidence of landscape modification. The Lapita lived along the coast, and marine life was their major source of food. However, they also had knowledge of horticulture which is the science involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use. Gardening or horticulture provided the Lapita people with the knowledge of domestication of certain tree crops. Archaeologists are not certain if they brought this gardening information from Southeast Asia or learned it from the indigenous inhabitants. Still,
Ursula V. P. Belyayeva
Abstract
The Lapita initial expansion was around 3500-3200 BP our goal is to investigate what initiated the expansion of the Lapita people from Near to Remote Oceania. By using push factor, we believe that the push condition was the over intensification of resources due to population pressure, which caused marine, agricultural and fauna depression and initiated the Lapita dispersal. From various archaeological studies, pollen can demonstrate the abundance of vegetation along with taxon verification and the impacts of extensive forest clearance. Terrestrial fauna can support inferences about the environment of the animals themselves and as well as aspects of human impacts on environments. As a group member, I will use pollen to analyze radical or non-radical change in vegetation along with fauna extinction to support inferences about human impacts on the environment.
1. Introduction
Lapita is a term given to an ancient Pacific Oceanic archaeological culture. The Lapita is believed to be a common ancestor of many cultures in Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia. The name Lapita comes from a site where pottery was first discovered on the main island of New Caledonia. Likewise, the Lapita people were excellent navigators from South East Asia. They explored vast new territories in Oceania. They left behind extensive material culture such as pottery, fish hooks, and other tools. They also left behind evidence of landscape modification. The Lapita lived along the coast, and marine life was their major source of food. However, they also had knowledge of horticulture which is the science involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use. Gardening or horticulture provided the Lapita people with the knowledge of domestication of certain tree crops. Archaeologists are not certain if they brought this gardening information from Southeast Asia or learned it from the indigenous inhabitants. Still,
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