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Petroglyphs and place

Complex histories at four sites in New Britain

Bibliographic Data

ID6038352
AuthorsJim Specht (0000-0001-8427-6650, Archaeology and Geosciences, Australian Museum and Archaeology University of Sydney, corresponding author), Robin Torrence (0000-0001-8519-2395, Archaeology and Geosciences, Australian Museum and Archaeology University of Sydney), Ken Mulvaney (0000-0003-3713-4312, Centre for Rock Art Research and Management The University of Western Australia)
Year2021
Volume56
Issue3
Pages196-228
Publication date2021-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeology in Oceania/Archæology & physical anthropology in Oceania (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0728-4896 • E-ISSN: 1834-4453
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/arco.5243
OpenAlexW3187020108
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited37

The analysis of cultural practices at four sites near Cape Gloucester and on Uneapa and Garua Islands in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea shows how rock markings and boulder arrangements create special places within physical and social landscapes. Four kinds of rock markings are documented: cupules, abraded surfaces, geometric curvilinear and rectilinear (i.e., composed of straight lines) petroglyphs, and figurative forms including anthropomorphic heads and introduced animals. The placement of the art, together with the arrangement of boulders, implies that both restricted and open forms of ceremony were conducted. The similarities between these sites suggest the existence of a precursor to the well‐documented recent interaction zone in this part of West New Britain. We speculate that these cultural practices have a much longer history than previously proposed for Island Melanesia

Archaeology · Ceremony · Ethnology · Geography · Literal and figurative language · New guinea · Rock art · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology

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Unique citing works1
Citations per year0,25
Citation span2022 - 2022 (1)
Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 1
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