Caves of Nanumanga
Encyclopedia
Caves of Nanumanga is underwater cave off the northern shore of Nanumanga
, Tuvalu
in western Polynesia
. Discovered by two scuba divers
in 1986.
Cave is located 37 metres (121.4 ft)-46 metres (150.9 ft) below the sea level, down the wall of a coral cliff. Dark patches on the roof and walls and blackened coral fragments on its floor suggest the use of fire by ancient occupants.
Pacific archeological evidence was questioned after the discovery, in that a vital piece of climatic evidence was missing - a massive and continuous rise in sea level that began 18,000 years ago and stopped 4000 years ago and possibly drowned most of the evidence of much earlier human migration
s into the Pacific.
In the Journal of Pacific History, Dr. John Gibbons of the University of the South Pacific
in Fiji
wrote: “…trying to make sense of Pacific prehistory may have been somewhat akin to the efforts of someone who arrives in time for the second act of a play, and then attempts to work out the plot without even realizing that the first act has already taken place."
Dr. Gibbons and his co-author, Dr. Fergus Clunie, believe the Pacific including the Tuvalu islands was colonised by waves of "boat people”, driven from their ancestral coastal homelands in Indonesia
and South-East Asia by rising oceans. The known world of Pacific archaeology ends abruptly at a temporal horizon 6000 years ago, the earliest date of distinctive shards of Lapita Pottery. The pottery is found in coastal regions throughout the south-west Pacific, from the Marquesas in the east, to New Caledonia in the south and the Carolines in the north.
are thus set against this background.
Nanumanga
Nanumanga or Nanumaga is a reef island and a district of the Oceanian island nation of Tuvalu. It has a surface area of about 3 km².-History:...
, Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
in western Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. Discovered by two scuba divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
in 1986.
Cave is located 37 metres (121.4 ft)-46 metres (150.9 ft) below the sea level, down the wall of a coral cliff. Dark patches on the roof and walls and blackened coral fragments on its floor suggest the use of fire by ancient occupants.
Legend
The discovery of the Caves of Nanumanga was made because of interest aroused by a local legend. According to this legend, there existed "a large house under the sea". The existence of this legend led to the scuba diving expedition in 1986, during which the caves were discovered. These are sometimes referred to as the Fire Caves of Nanumanga.Historical interpretations
Scientifically, the last time people could have possibly occupied the cave was during a time of low sea level more than 8000 years ago, a date sharply at odds with the view that the Pacific was settled just 6000 years ago.Pacific archeological evidence was questioned after the discovery, in that a vital piece of climatic evidence was missing - a massive and continuous rise in sea level that began 18,000 years ago and stopped 4000 years ago and possibly drowned most of the evidence of much earlier human migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
s into the Pacific.
In the Journal of Pacific History, Dr. John Gibbons of the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
wrote: “…trying to make sense of Pacific prehistory may have been somewhat akin to the efforts of someone who arrives in time for the second act of a play, and then attempts to work out the plot without even realizing that the first act has already taken place."
Dr. Gibbons and his co-author, Dr. Fergus Clunie, believe the Pacific including the Tuvalu islands was colonised by waves of "boat people”, driven from their ancestral coastal homelands in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and South-East Asia by rising oceans. The known world of Pacific archaeology ends abruptly at a temporal horizon 6000 years ago, the earliest date of distinctive shards of Lapita Pottery. The pottery is found in coastal regions throughout the south-west Pacific, from the Marquesas in the east, to New Caledonia in the south and the Carolines in the north.
Sea level debates
The caves are currently submerged underneath the ocean, highlighting the profound change in sea level over time. Public controversies regarding sea level changes in contemporary TuvaluTuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
are thus set against this background.
External links and sources
- History of the Tuvalu islands
- The AgeThe AgeThe Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
(Australia), Monday 13 April 1987