Prehistoric Village

On Mare Is Puzzle

For Archaeologists

Two American archaeologists, who carried out the first archae ological survey of the New Hebrides a couple of years ago (PIM, Jan., p. 69), hope to re turn to the Western Pacific later this year for further field work in the New Hebrides and in New Caledonia and Fiji.

THE archaeologists are Dr. Richard Shutler, Jr. and his wife Mary Elizabeth. Dr. Shutler, who was formerly head of the Department of Archaeology at the Nevada State Museum, is now with the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.

He is particularly interested in making a thorough examination of a unique prehistoric fortified village on Mare, one of the Loyalty Islands, of New Caledonia.

The village was pointed out to him by Pere Dußois, a long-time resident of Mare, when he visited that island in company with Mr. Luc F.

Chevalier, curator of the Musee Neo- Caledonien in Noumea, in July, 1964.

Dr. Shutler says that the village is near the centre of the island, and is surrounded by a wall of coral rocks, many of which have been shaped.

Mile Square

At one time the wall was 10 ft high and 10 ft wide, and double in some places. It is approximately one mile square. At one corner of the village are the remains of a gate.

Although the village is now covered with dense bush, its outline may be clearly seen from the air, as trees growing on the fallen wall debris stand out from the surrounding terrain.

Dr. Shutler says he knows of no prehistoric village of this size to have been reported previously from any where in Oceania, and that the present natives of Mare have no knowledge or legends about the origins of the village.

However, large, shaped blocks of coral were used in various smaller structures in parts of Micronesia, a P. - as one the island’s grand chiefs told Dr. Shutler that his ancestors had reached Mare on a

direct migration from Guam, it seems possible that investigations may reveal some link between the Micro nesian structures and the village on Mare.

Meanwhile, it has been reported from Samoa that a young Samoan, Atonio Maiava, has discovered some extensive archaeological remains on the island of Savaii, inland from Safune, Safotu and Patamea. Accord ing to the Samoa Times of Pago Pago, the most spectacular is an old fort or 010 behind Patamea, which is almost certainly the biggest

structure of its kind yet found in the Samoan group.

The fort is reported to consist of a huge stone wall built across a ridge. The wall has only one narrow entrance through which people could pass.

Atonio has been searching for ancient sites in preparation for the return later this year of an archaeological team sponsored by the American National Science Founda tion and the Bishop Museum. A similar team will also resume work in Fiji soon.