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U.S.P.
UNVEILS ‘MANA’ THE FACE OF LAPITA PEOPLE |
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By Tuifa’asisina Peter Rees |
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We are used to reading
history books filled with pictures and re-enactments of the past. But
these have focussed more on the great civilizations in Europe, Asia,
Africa and the Americas.
The origins of the peoples of Oceania however is more of a jigsaw
puzzle with a series of inconclusive theories put forward by academics,
archaeologists, anthropologists and scientists, on how the Pacific
Islanders came to populate the islands in the biggest ocean on Earth.
But not all these theories have been in line with each other. While
there are those that believe the Pacific Island peoples originated from
South America, the strongest line of thought favours a link with
South-East Asia.
This is based on diggings around the Pacific that have found
distinctive ‘lapita’ pottery. Lapita is the site of one of the first
diggings in New Caledonia and refers to an ancient Pacific culture,
which is believed to be the common ancestor of the contemporary
cultures of Polynesia, Micronesia, and some areas of Melanesia.
While the exact origin of these Lapita people is uncertain, it is
believed they began migrating from South-East Asia from 1500 B.C on,
spreading eastwards to Micronesia and parts of Melanesia and ending up
in Polynesia.
Trying to put a face on our past using these theories have been
difficult but proving our Asian link took a giant leap forward in when
scientists unveiled a reconstructed 3000 year-old skull that was dug up
three years ago in Fiji.
The official unveiling was done during a special ceremony held at the
Suva based University of South Pacific, by USP Vice Chancellor,
Professor Anthony Tarr.
It is the first time in history a face has been recreated from skeletal
remains dating back to the Lapita era. What was unveiled to the world
from the USP captivated the world.
The recreated skull belonged to a female and was named ‘Mana’ by its
founder, Chris Suri, a USP student from the Solomon Islands who
unearthed the skeleton during a field research exercise at Naitabale on
Moturiki in the Lomaiviti group of the Fiji isles in July 2002. The
remains were found about 300 metres inland from the coast. Suri named
it Mana, which means “truth” in his native dialect. Professor Patrick
Nunn led the research team from the USP and Fiji Museum. |
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USP Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Tarr with Professor
Patrick Nunn with Mr Sepeti Matararaba (Fiji Museum) and USP
students at the unveiling of Mana.
(Photo: courtesy of USP, Marketing & Comminications office)
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The Mana skeleton as it was found in July 2002 at Nataibale by
Chris Suri, a USP student from the Solomon Islands during a
field research exercise.
(Photo: courtesy of USP, Marketing & Comminications office)
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USP students; recreating Mana was made possible only by detailed
analysis done at the Primate Research Centre at the Kyoto
University in Japan.
(Photo: courtesy of USP, Marketing & Comminications office) |
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But recreating Mana was made possible only by detailed analysis done
at the Primate Research Centre at the Kyoto University in Japan.
With more advanced technology (computer modelling) at their
disposal, scientists were able to determine the remains were that of
a woman who would have between 40-60 years of age at the time of
death.
She had children, stood at least 161cm tall and was right-handed.
Professor Nunn oversaw the dating, which estimated Mana lived around
800 B.C.
Finding skeletal remains dating to the lapita era is rare and less
than 20 have been found, some in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. But
reconstructing these was difficult because of the condition of the
remains. Mana was found well preserved which made it an excellent
candidate.
The recreated Mana face has not only Pacific Island features, but
distinctive Asian qualities as well. Scientists believe Mana was
tall and strongly built.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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