Waya is the jewel of this spectacular setting. The island's precipitous terrain is well watered by mountain springs and unspoiled by the trappings of the modern outside world. Waya's dramatic beauty comes from the contrasts of blue lagoons, white sand beaches, and its rugged volcanic peaks whose upper slopes are cloaked in native forest. Access to the island is by government-licensed boats from Fiji's main island of Viti Levu. The island has no roads, cars, or other modern infrastructure.
Electricity is limited to use of generators, mostly at the villages.
The field school will include a variety of activities, but most of our effort will be spent excavating the rockshelters of Qaranicagi and Wayalevu. Students will learn the skills of excavation, screening, photography, and recording of artifacts, features, and stratigraphic profiles. We will spend some time learning survey methods, field mapping, and site recording. This work will sometimes involve rigorous hiking. Students will spend approximately one day a week doing field laboratory work, including midden processing, and cleaning and cataloging artifacts.