Which evidence shows that Polynesians settled the Samoan islands about 1000 BCE?

Evidence that Polynesians settled the Samoan islands around 1000 BCE is primarily based on the discovery of Lapita culture pottery shards. Specifically, these artifacts were found in the Mulifanua Lagoon on the island of Upolu.12

The Lapita people, who were skilled seafarers and navigators, are associated with this distinctive fired pottery, which often features geometric designs created with a toothlike implement. While pottery manufacturing in Samoa ceased by approximately 200 CE, these archaeological remains serve as a key indicator of the initial human settlement of the archipelago. Additionally, linguistic analysis suggests that the early settlers likely arrived from Tonga, as the Samoan language shares characteristics with other Polynesian tongues.1234