Preliminary Reoprt on Pottery Finds in Tonga

During the period September 1963 to September 1964 archreological field work was carried out in Tonga for the Australian National University. The investigations have been limited to Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga. Attention was concentrated upon excavation because there is no lack of known rich sites. A team of local Tongan workers under the leadership of an excellent Tongan interpreter and excavation assistant was a considerable help to the expedition. The establishment of an archreologicalrelative chronology has never been attempted for any period of the prehistory of Tonga. This is the main purpose of the investigations in progress, as a relative chronology must form the basis for all other efficient and successful archreological investigations within the area. From this point of view it appeared that it would be best to concentrate upon the excavation of a selected few of the many habitation sites producing pottery.