Study of 30 surface and 18 archaeological-context pollen samples was undertaken to assess the potential for further archaeological palynology research. Surface sample analysis allows palynological recognition of eight habitat types ranging from dry and cold through wet and moist to dry and warm. Comparison of fossil and modern surface pollen data suggests the character of paleoecological change sequences at 4 sites, a positive potential for inter-site and intra-site relative cross-dating, and a positive potential for inter-regional dating on paleoclimatic grounds.

Study of 97 pollen samples suggests that pollen occurs in sufficient quantity for analysis, that economic pollen types occur, and that pollen sequences indicate paleoenvironmental changes over time. An extraction technique for recovering sufficient pollen for analysis is described for samples dominated by coral sand particles. 29 pollen taxa were recognized in the analysis of a series of samples from a Futuna Island rockshelter.