Lapita is the common name of an ancient Pacific Ocean archaeological culture which is believed by some to be the common ancestor of several cultures in Polynesia, Micronesia, and some areas of Melanesia. The type site in New Caledonia was discovered in 1952. The word Lapita itself isn't a place name. A word in a local New Caledonian language, xaapeta, meaning 'dig a hole', was misheard as, and became, lapita. Dating Classic Lapita pottery was produced between 1350 and 750 BC in the Bismarck Arch… (More on Lapita)