Archaeology of Samoa
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Archaeology of Samoa began with the first systematic survey of archaeological remains on Savai'i island by Jack Golson in 1957.[1] Since then, surveys and studies in the rest of Samoa have uncovered major findings of settlements, stone and earth mounds including star mounds, Lapita pottery remains and pre-historic artifacts.[2]
An important part of archaeology in Samoa and Oceania involves finding the answer to the origins of Polynesians,[3] ongoing research which is being undertaken in conjunction with other fields including linguistics and genetics.
The oldest date so far from pre-historic remains in Samoa has been calculated by New Zealand scientists to a likely true age of circa 3,000 BP (Before Present) from a Lapita site at Mulifanua during the 1970s.[4]