Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT The colonisation of the Mariana Islands in Western Micronesia is likely to represent a long‐distance ocean dispersal of more than 2000 km, and establishing the date of human arrival in the archipelago is important for modelling Neolithic expansion in Island South‐East Asia and the Pacific. In 2010, Clarket al. published a paper discussing a number of radiocarbon dates from the Bapot‐1 site on Saipan Island, but a disparity between charcoal and marine shell (Anadarasp.) results prevented the calculation of a definitive age for the site and left open the possibility that Bapot‐1 was first settled as early as 3500 calBP. Here, we present new research using a combination of stable isotope (δ13C and δ18O) and14C information to demonstrate thatA. antiquatafrom the lowest layers of Bapot‐1 is affected by hardwaters. These new results indicate human arrival at Bapot‐1 occurred around 3200–3080 calBP (1250–1130 BC). We recommend a similar isotopic evaluation for other sites in the Marianas that are dated by marine shell.
DOI: 10.1002/arco.5108
Institutions: University of Waikato, Australian National University
Language: English
Subfield: Paleontology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2531817655