Ancient DNA and its contribution to understanding the human history of the Pacific Islands

Two recent papers, by Lipson et al. and Posth et al., have challenged current interpretations of the initial settlement of Remote Oceania. We invited Stuart Bedford, who is an author on both papers, to outline their importance, and a number of scholars in various disciplines to comment on their findings

Ancient DNA · Archaeology · Genealogy · Geography · Settlement (finance · Sociology · Anthropology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Computer Science · Demography · Forensic and Genetic Research · History · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

• The Spice Islands in Prehistory

  P Bellwood•The Spice Islands in Prehistory•2019

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• Lapita Archaeology in the Southwest Pacific

  Open Access•Frank R Thomas, Paul Geraghty et al.•Encyclopedia Of Global Archaeology•2020

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• Voice and transitivity in Äiwoo and Engdewu

  Open Access•Åshild Næss•Studies in Language•2025

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• Minding the Gaps

  Open Access•Elizabeth Matisoo-Smith, Brooke Whitelaw et al.•Journal of Pacific Archaeology•2026

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• Slow science for fast archaeology

  Open Access•Marko Marila•Current Swedish Archaeology•2019

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• Introduction

  Open Access•A Kallen, Charlotte Mulcare et al.•Journal of Social Archaeology•2021

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• Response to “Ancient DNA and its contribution to understanding the human history of the Pacific Islands” (Bedford et al . 2018)

  Open Access•Cosimo Posth, Kathrin Nägele et al.•Archaeology in Oceania/Archæology…•2019

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• Kuwae, Epi and Tongoa Islands

  Open Access•Robert Henderson, Bedford et al.•Archaeology in Oceania/Archæology…•2025

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• Revisiting ancient DNA insights into the human history of the Pacific Islands

  Open Access•M Spriggs, F Valentin et al.•Archaeology in Oceania/Archæology…•2019

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• An ancient DNA Pacific journey

  M Spriggs, David Reich•World Archaeology•2019

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• The Oxford Handbook of Prehistoric Oceania

  Ethan E Cochrane, Terry L Hunt•Oxford Handbook of Prehistoric…•2018

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• Hawaiki, Ancestral Polynesia

  Open Access•P V Kirch, Roger C Green•Hawaiki, Ancestral Polynesia•2001

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• First Islanders

  P Bellwood, Colin Groves et al.•First Islanders•2017

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• Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe

  Open Access•Wolfgang Haak, Iosif Lazaridis et al.•Nature•2015

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• Population genomics of Bronze Age Eurasia

  Open Access•Morten E Allentoft, Mateusz Sikora et al.•Nature•2015

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• Genomic insights into the peopling of the Southwest Pacific

  Open Access•Peter Skoglund, Pontus Skoglund et al.•Nature•2016

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• Some Problems in Proto-Oceanic Grammar

  Andrew Pawley•Oceanic Linguistics•1973

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• Fijian Polygenesis and the Melanesian/Polynesian Divide

  David V Burley•Current Anthropology•2013

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• Notes on proto-Malayo-Polynesian phratry dualism

  Open Access•Robert Blust•Bijdragen tot de taal- land- en…•1980

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• Social resilience and long-term adaptation to volcanic disasters

  Open Access•Robin Torrence•Quaternary International•2016

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• Lapita Burial Practices

  F Valentin, Bedford et al.•The Journal of Island and Coastal…•2010

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• The Routledge Handbook of bioarchaeology in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands

  D Bulbeck•Australian Archaeology•2016

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• Migration and mobility at the Late Lapita site of Reber–Rakival (SAC), Watom Island using isotope and trace element analysis

  Open Access•B Shaw, Hallie Buckley et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2009

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• Radiocarbon dating of burials from the Teouma Lapita cemetery, Efate, Vanuatu

  Open Access•Fiona Petchey, M Spriggs et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2014

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• The use of strontium isotopes as an indicator of migration in human and pig Lapita populations in the Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea

  Open Access•B Shaw, Ben J Shaw et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2008

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• Northern Vanuatu as a Pacific Crossroads

  Bedford, Stuart Bedford et al.•Asian perspectives•2008

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• The Prehistory of Oceania [and Comments and Reply]

  P Bellwood, William S Ayres et al.•Current Anthropology•1975

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• Early Austronesian Social Organization

  Robert Blust, David F Aberle et al.•Current Anthropology•1980

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• The Austronesians

  Open Access•P Bellwood, J J Fox et al.•The Austronesians•2006

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• Austronesian culture history

  Robert Blust•World Archaeology•1976

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• Boots on the ground in Africa's ancient DNA 'revolution

  Open Access•M E Prendergast, E A Sawchuk et al.•Antiquity•2018

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• Man's Conquest of the Pacific. The Prehistory of Southeast Asia and Oceania

  R Pearson, P Bellwood•Pacific Affairs•1979

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• Lapita Migrants in the Pacific's Oldest Cemetery

  Open Access•R A Bentley, H R Buckley et al.•American Antiquity•2007

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• Lapita Colonization across the Near/Remote Oceania Boundary

  Peter J Sheppard, Peter Sheppard•Current Anthropology•2011

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