Tiliva Resort site is exceptional for Kadavu archaeology.
It is historically interesting due to an archaeological survey carried out in 2009 by David Burnley of Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, together with William R Dickinson who carried out the petrographic study of Kadavu ceramics and Ratu Jone Balinaivalu of the Fiji Museum.
The ceramics found at the resort, close to the creek, included an abundance of collared and notched rim forms as well as a single piece of dentate stamped Lapita ware. These show an early period of late Lapita midden. This assemblage dates between 2500 and 2600 years ago.There is a notable absence of later period ceramics suggesting the site occupants moved during the Plainware Phase to Tiliva Village.
David Burnley goes on to quote ‘Tiliva Resort site is exceptional for Kadavu archaeology. It holds the potential to document a small archaeological transition to the Fijian Plainware Phase without the problems of later period disturbances and assemblage mixing.’
Small pieces of pottery can still be found along the edge of the lawn at the main bure close to the creek.
