Chronological modelling of village sites across the Torres Strait

Abstract

Village sites were a catalyst for cultural transformation and ongoing ritual development throughout the Torres Strait. Current understandings date the development of village sites to between c.1500 years and c. 500 years ago. To narrow down the timing of these events, we use stable carbon isotope (δ13C) values alongside shell 14C dates to develop chronological models of excavated village sites from the Western, Top Western, Central and Eastern Islands. Results further our understanding of temporal events associated with major settlement expansion throughout the region over the last two millennia.