Fatumafuti

Fatumafuti is a multi-year project involving some sewer lines going in near the coast. This season we were in a school parking lot, working on an areal excavation covering about 17 1x1m squares. Three were taken down to sterile sand. A few features uncovered, including large paving stones covering nearly the entire area, a deep pit that may have been a drainage ditch, a large umu/oven, and a few possible post holes. Artefacts found included adze fragments, fish hooks, fish and pig bone.


Very early on, before I arrived, they mapped a lovely floor of ma'avai paving stones.


TU-8, a very interesting unit as may be obvious by how many people are helping. Siaki, Danny, Phil, Vai and Tim's shoulder.


From the sidewalk, the back view of the site showing the wet sieving area and the edge of the covered pit.


We excavated this season within the school parking lot. View from the entrance.


Siaki at one of the wet sieve stations.


Pauline down in TU-6.


Adam in his unit 4. Having a great time, as always.




Adopted puppy from next door, held by Danny.


Mary and I, able to fit into a square together, coming up for some air and a laugh.

Fish hook!

Today was a good day. I found a fish hook in unit TU-6, in layer 6. A long way below datum. This unit had yielded most of the artefacts we have found this season: another larger fish hook, a large adze fragment, and some nice adze flakes. Here it is, positioned back together (I broke it in half digging):



One team member, who knows a lot more about Samoan archaeology than I do, suggested that this square houses part of a drainage system that may have led away from a dwelling.