Nukuleka

Nukuleka is a small fishing village on the north-east coast of the island of Tongatapu, Kingdom of Tonga. In January 2008, Canadian archaeologist Professor David V. Burley claimed that it was the "cradle of Polynesia".

In 2007, Burley led an archeological team conducting digs at a site in Nukuleka, and uncovered pieces of Lapita pottery which are estimated to be about 2,900 years old. Burley then stated: "Tonga was the first group of islands in Polynesia to be settled by the Lapita People about 3,000 years ago, and Nukuleka was their first settlement in Tonga." ^[1]. This finding challenged claims made by Samoa which, in the words of a New Zealand journalist, "has advertised itself for decades as the 'cradle of Polynesia'" ^{[2] [3]}.

According to Burley, it was at Nukuleka that Melanesian settlers developed a new culture and social structures, thus becoming a distinct people, "Polynesians", before setting out to colonise the uninhabited islands of Polynesia.^[4]

However, Professor Burley's conclusion was questioned by Dr. 'Okusitino Māhina, lecturer in Pacific Political Economy and Pacific Arts Anthropology at the University of Auckland ^[5][6].

References

1. ^ "Tonga's Nukuleka, the birth place of Polynesia", Pesi Fonua, Matangi Tonga, January 7, 2008
2. ^ "Tongan site dated oldest in Polynesia", Michael Field, Stuff.co.nz, January 10, 2008
3. ^ "Tonga archaeology discovery blow to Samoa's 'cradle' claim", Radio Australia, January 11, 2008
4. ^ "Canadian rewrites Oceania history", Randy Boswell, Calgary Herald, January 21, 2008
5. ^ "Was Nukuleka really the cradle of Polynesia?", Matangi Tonga, January 10, 2008
6. ^ "Anthropologist rejects Tonga 'cradle of Polynesia' theory", Radio Australia, January 11, 2008

Coordinates: 21°09′S 175°08′W / 21.15°S 175.133°W / -21.15; -175.133