Enhancing Oral Tradition in Fiji for the Study of Archaeological Remains. The Case of the Hillforts in the Nadroga-Navosa Province

Loredana Lancini; Hervé  Duval-Gatignol; Nunn Patrick; Rita Compatangelo-Soussignan; Elia Nakoro; Nikolau  Tokainavatu

doi:10.3986/SMS20252801

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Enhancing Oral Tradition in Fiji for the Study of Archaeological Remains. The Case of the Hillforts in the Nadroga-Navosa Province

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Enhancing Oral Tradition in Fiji for the Study of Archaeological Remains. The Case of the Hillforts in the Nadroga-Navosa Province

Loredana Lancini, Hervé Duval-Gatignol, Nunn Patrick, Rita Compatangelo-Soussignan, Elia Nakoro and Nikolau Tokainavatu

Studia Mythologica Slavica, Vol.28, pp.7-28

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3986/SMS20252801

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Abstract

oral history

oral tradition

Fiji Islands

archaeology

Pacific Islands

hillforts

The Fiji Islands offer a compelling case for cross-cultural research integrating archaeology and oral tradition. Fijian society still practices oral transmission, preserving diverse stories with cultural significance. Many legends and beliefs are tied to past settlements, consid-ered sacred due to their symbolic role. In June 2022, fieldwork in Nadroga-Navosa (Viti Levu) as part of the Environmental Changes and Heritage in the Fijian Islands project, explored hillforts and oral traditions through archaeological surveys. Findings from sites like Tabuqutu and Old Tau reveal that landscapes and remains are deeply embedded in local memory. Stories of origins, place names and beliefs about hillforts as ancestral homes highlight the enduring role of oral tradition in shaping historical knowledge. This paper presents these findings, emphasizing the value of oral tradition in interpreting archaeology within Fijian society.

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Title: Enhancing Oral Tradition in Fiji for the Study of Archaeological Remains. The Case of the Hillforts in the Nadroga-Navosa Province
Authors: Loredana Lancini - Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire
Hervé Duval-Gatignol - Société Jersiaise (Jersey)
Nunn Patrick - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Rita Compatangelo-Soussignan - Centre de Recherche en Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire
Elia Nakoro - Fiji Museum
Nikolau Tokainavatu - Fiji Museum
Publication details: Studia Mythologica Slavica, Vol.28, pp.7-28
Publisher: Zalozba Z R C,Scientific Research Centre Publishing
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.3986/SMS20252801
ISSN: 1581-128X; 1408-6271
Copyright note: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Organisation Unit: Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991153711902621
Output Type: Journal article

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