Holocene sea levels and coastal change, South-west Viti Levu Island, Fiji

K K Lal; Patrick Nunn

doi:10.1080/00049182.2011.546318

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Holocene sea levels and coastal change, South-west Viti Levu Island, Fiji

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Holocene sea levels and coastal change, South-west Viti Levu Island, Fiji

K K Lal and Patrick Nunn

Australian Geographer, Vol.42(1), pp.41-51

2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2011.546318

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Abstract

core

sediment analysis

sea-level change

Holocene

Fiji

lagoon

For the first time, a sediment core spanning the entire Holocene has been analysed from Fiji. The 6 m core was obtained from the floor of an ancient coastal lagoon (palaeolagoon) adjacent to Bourewa, the site of the earliest known human settlement in this island group. The basal sediments, just above bedrock, date from 11 470 cal BP. A major transition occurs around 8000 cal BP where marine influences on palaeolagoon sedimentation increase sharply. Full shallow-water marine conditions are attained around 4630 cal BP and last until 3480 cal BP after which there is a regressive phase. The results agree with the area-specific predictions of sea level in the ICE-4G model, particularly in the timing of the highstand. In addition, the results support the ideas (a) that early human colonisation of Fiji occurred during the late Holocene regression, (b) that the first inhabitants of Bourewa utilised both nearshore marine (reefal) and brackish lagoon food sources, and (c) that the abrupt human abandonment of the area around 2500 cal BP could have been prompted by a reduction in these resources driven largely by sea-level fall. © 2011 Geographical Society of New South Wales Inc.

Details

Title: Holocene sea levels and coastal change, South-west Viti Levu Island, Fiji
Authors: K K Lal (Author) - University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Patrick Nunn (Author) - University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Publication details: Australian Geographer, Vol.42(1), pp.41-51
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2011
DOI: 10.1080/00049182.2011.546318
ISSN: 0004-9182
Copyright note: Copyright © 2011 Taylor & Francis. This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Australian Geographer: Kirti K. Lal & Patrick D. Nunn, Holocene Sea Levels and Coastal Change, South-west Viti Levu Island, Fiji, (2011) 42:1, 41-51, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00049182.2011.546318
Organisation Unit: Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448710602621
Output Type: Journal article

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