Austronesian Expansion and the Colonisation of Western Micronesia

The project examines the structure of Austronesian expansion in the Western Pacific through the archaeological study of the colonisation phase in the Belau Islands, Micronesia. These islands are at the frontier of the major Austronesian diaspora (ca 4000 years ago) and the excavation of settlement era sites will clarify the origin, timing and nature of population movement east of the indo-malaysian archipelago. The project will investigate the colonising strategy by dating early occupation sites and analysing archaeological materials, particularly pottery.