To'abaita students study neo-colonial human settlement patterns in Fiji

A group of To'abaita students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji along with other Solomon Islanders have undertaken a field study of the neo-colonial human settlement patterns at the Sigatoka area, southwest of Viti Levu Island, Fiji as part of a class field trip.

The To'abaita students who went on that field study are Mr Edward Danitofea (Roso Village), Mr Simeon Riiagalo (Malu'u area), and Mr Eddie Konairamo (Raubabata Village).

The study was part of a 300 level geography course which was aimed at determing evidence of uplifting, changes of sea level, and the old human settlement patterns in the Sigatoka valley. The Sigatoka area is one of the primary areas in Fiji that has been recently exposed as one of the old settlement areas for Pacific Islands people who travelled before settling at current locations throught the Melanesian regions. This followed recent excavations and discovery of human skeletons and potteries in the Sigatoka area.

According to Edward Danitofea, the students also studied several contributing factors to the famous Sigatoka Sand Dunes which is believed to evolve in the AD1350 due to changes of human settlement patterns at the Sigatoka area.

It is also believed that a cave in the area known as "Tatuba Cave" is where some people settled in during the AD1300 sea level fall, commonly referred to as the "Little Ice Age".

Reports and pics from ED, USP, Fiji.