Lapita maritime adaptations and the development of fishing technology: A view from Vanuatu

It is now more than 20 years since the last detailed review of Lapita fishing strategies (Butler 1994). Since that time a greater number of Lapita sites have been excavated, some of which have produced substantial fish remains and associated fishing gear. This additional data is essential in providing a more robust understanding of Lapita fishing and its later adaptations throughout the entirety of its distribution. Localised and detailed studies of larger fish vertebrate and technology data sets from a wider range of island groups is crucial to this understanding. Here we present the results of the analysis of a large collection of fish bone from a Lapita and Post-Lapita site on the island of Uripiv, north-east Malakula, Vanuatu. Recovered fishhooks are also outlined. The results, when discussed in the wider Lapita context, suggest the use of a diverse array of technology and capture methods with similarities and differences between regions and temporal periods that may reflect cultural flexibility in response to differences in local marine habitats.