A study published in early 2026 in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology has mapped the extensive trade of obsidian across the northern islands of Vanuatu. Using high-precision geochemical sourcing, researchers identified that volcanic glass tools found in the Banks Islands originated from diverse sources, indicating a highly interconnected prehistoric economy.
The research suggests that these trade networks were established shortly after the initial Lapita settlement and persisted for centuries, serving as a medium for social interaction and the exchange of linguistic and cultural traits. This mapping project provides a clearer picture of the 'maritime highways' that once linked the northern reaches of the archipelago to the wider Solomon Islands chain.