Lapita Culture

The Lapita Culture was an ancient Polynesian society that existed around 1600 to 500 BCE, known for their distinctive pottery with intricate geometric patterns. They originated in Southeast Asia and Oceania and are considered the ancestors of many Pacific islander populations, including Polynesians, Micronesians, and some Melanesians. The Lapita people were skilled sailors and navigators, successfully voyaging across vast ocean distances, establishing settlements on islands such as Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Their culture laid the foundation for the development of complex societies in the Pacific, characterized by advanced navigation, agriculture, and social organization.