New Guinea

The largest island of Oceania, in the eastern Malay Archipelago, north of Australia. New Guinea was joined to Australia in low sea-level periods of Pleistocene and was probably first settled by early Australoids at the same time as its larger neighbor. New Guinea archaeology examines the Highlands, which is totally Papuan-speaking, and also the coasts, which is mixed Papuan and Austronesian. The Highland prehistoric sequence in totally aceramic. Stone mortars and pestles, many elaborate shape, are also found in the Highlands. The New Guinea coasts only have sequences back to 3000-2000 years ago as earlier sites were probably drowned by rising sea levels. The best-reported are Collingwood Bay and south coastal Papua, both with pottery. Some coastal groups had developed elaborate trading networks by the time of European contact. Almost the whole of New Guinea is occupied by speakers of Papuan languages, the original settlers of the island, who live mainly in the interior and southern sections. Ethnic composition is complex among the Papuans, who speak some 700 different languages.

The largest island of Oceania, New Guinea (800,000 square kilometres) was joined to Australia in periods of Pleistocene low sea-level, and was probably first settled by early Australoids at the same time as its larger neighbour (see Kosipe). New Guinea archaeology is best considered under two headings: the Highlands, totally PAPUAN-speaking, and the coasts, mixed Papuan and Austronesian. For the Highland prehistoric sequence in general (totally aceramic), see Kafiavana, Kiowa, Kosipe. For horticultural origins early in the Holocene, see Kuk. Stone mortars and pestles, many of elaborate shape, are also found in the Highlands, but their significance is still uncertain. The New Guinea coasts only have sequences back to 3000-2000 years ago so far (earlier sites probably being drowned by rising sea levels), and the best reported are from Collingwood Bay and south coastal Papua (both with pottery). Some coastal groups had developed elaborate trading networks by the time of European contact (see Motupore). See also Lake Sentani, Papuan, Sahul, sugar cane.