On the Expedition
Explore the prehistory of a South Pacific paradise to help reconstruct the cultural history of the region.
Featured by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the “Best New Trips of 2008”!
“The lure of life as a Pacific islander is as timeworn as it is elusive. Enter Earthwatch Institute, our third highest rated outfitter overall, whose new archaeological expedition to the Fijian island of Viti Levu takes immersion travel to the extreme.”
~National Geographic Adventure Magazine
Fiji’s scenic Rove Peninsula is fringed by a vast mangrove forest on one side and white sand beaches bordered by coral reefs on the other. Your team will work with Pacific Islander University students to excavate at Bourewa Beach and other nearby sites, taking down the layers and sifting sediments to find intriguing evidence of the Lapita culture. You may also spend time searching out other sites and using additional archaeological techniques. An exciting part of your expedition will be living and interacting with local villagers, who are eager to share their colorful culture. In your recreational time you can visit Natadola Beach, rated one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
Meals and Accommodations
Your team will stay in the village of Vusama and will enjoy the locals’ gracious hospitality. Some team members will stay with village families, sharing a bedroom with two simple beds, while others will stretch out on mattresses in the local community hall. Bucket showers and pit toilets will be available, and a village generator will supply electricity each evening. Villagers will prepare breakfasts and dinners to serve in the community hall, and packed lunches to bring into the field. Local fare includes bounteous seafood, ranging from mangrove lobsters to fried fish, and root crops like taro and cassava. Alcohol is not permitted.
About the Research Area
The Rove Peninsula extends off the southwest coast of Fiji’s Viti Levu Island and is fringed on the western side by a huge mangrove forest. Its southern and eastern sides are bordered by white sand beaches and one of the broadest fringing coral reefs in Fiji. The peninsula is dry and covered mostly by grassland, with forests along the valley bottoms. The terrain is crisscrossed by walking paths and small roads, making it easy to get around.
The mangroves at the mouth of the Tuva River are a source of considerable seafood for the people of the area including those living in the village of Vusama, where Earthwatch teams will stay. The open coasts are also very productive, with Vusama people specializing in the collection of sea grapes, shellfish, many varieties of fish, and octopus. .