Late Lapita colonisation of a high island in Western Polynesia: The case of 'Eua Island, Tonga

One of the major issues under discussion is the initial spread and subsequent intensification of Lapita settlement in Polynesia. The paper presents a brief account of the findings of a test excavation on 'Eua, Tongan Islands and provides the first 14C dates for the location. This allows us to compare its settlement with neighbouring Tongatapu, and permits us to postulate that settlement of high islands in the Tongan Group is later than that of the more accessible low island.