Subject
Pacific Islands, Ancient Connectivities, Archaeological Evidence, Linguistic Data, Genetic Data, Lapita Culture, New Caledonia, Pacific Ocean Colonization, Maori Pottery, New Guinea Highlands, Austronesian Art Styles, Crops Cultivation, Papuan Speakers, Melanesia, Non-chiefly Leadership, Micronesia, Polynesia

Domains
Archéologie, Anthropologie, Histoire, Linguistique, Sciences Sociales, Sciences humaines

Description

The paper discusses the knowledge of interactions between the islands of the Pacific, primarily based on archaeological evidence, linguistic data, and genetic data. The Lapita culture, named after an archaeological site in New Caledonia, colonized a significant portion of the Pacific Ocean within a short period of time. The paper mentions the influence of Lapita pottery designs on contemporary Maori pottery, providing a sense of history and continuity. The New Guinea Highlands have rock art influenced by Austronesian art styles, and crops like taros, yams, and sugarcane are thought to have been first cultivated by the Papuan speakers of the New Guinea area. The paper highlights the diversity and innovation found in Melanesia and the different forms of non-chiefly leadership. Micronesia, settled between 2,000 and 3,500 years ago, is less culturally diverse than Melanesia and less homogeneous than Polynesia.

Keywords

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Spriggs, Matthew

Contributors

Sources
UNESCO, 2011, Island as Crossroads: sustaining cultural diversity in Small Island Developing States. Edited by Tim Curtis, UNESCO: Paris, pp. 23-39.

Relation
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000190899

Coverage
Oceania, Pacific Islands, New Caledonia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia

Name of newspaper