Archaeological and Palaeoenviromental Investigations Near Aitape, Northern Papua New Guinea, 2014

Bibliographic Data

ID20494076
AuthorsM Golitko (0000-0003-3570-9899, University of Notre Dame), Ethan E Cochrane (0000-0001-9027-0634), Ethan Cochrane, Esther M Schechter, Esther M Schecter, Jason Kariwiga (0000-0002-4387-9284, University of Papua New Guinea)
Year2016
Volume7
Issue1
Pages139-150
Publication date2016-02-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Pacific Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1179-4704 • E-ISSN: 1179-4712
PublisherNew Zealand Archaeological Association (PUBLISHER • NZ)
DOI10.70460/jpa.v7i1.187
OpenAlexW2280457660
LanguageEN
Citations received3

The mid-Holocene period (ca. 7000–3000 BP) in the southwestern Pacific witnessed the activation of wide-ranging networks connecting the north coast of New Guinea and off-shore islands, possibly driven by rising population density as favourable coastal environments developed after the mid-Holocene marine highstand. Yet finding actual evidence for human occupation dating to this period in New Guinea has proven extremely challenging. We report on the results of recent fieldwork carried out to examine areas of potential mid-Holocene settlement near the modern town of Aitape. Our survey and excavations provide minor evidence for mid-Holocene settlement, but we find no evidence for obsidian or other long distance imports suggesting connection to other parts of the Pacific during this time. It remains uncertain whether this absence reflects prehistoric reality or the difficulties inherent in finding archaeology of mid-Holocene age on a coastline impacted by significant morphological change during the intervening millennia

Archaeology · Ethnology · Geography · New guinea · Geological and Geophysical Studies · History · Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

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