Subject
Rainu Archaeological Site, Human-Made Mounds, Shells and Pottery, Cultural Activity, Brian Egloff (1979), Artefact Dating, Austronesian Culture, Megalithic Practices, Jomon Pottery (Japan), C.A.W. Monckton, Incised Shells, Cultural Origins, Austronesian-Speaking Groups, Agricultural Spread, Cultural Identity, Archaeological Significance

Domains
Archéologie, Sciences Sociales, Sciences humaines

Description

This paper explores the archaeological discoveries at Rainu in New Guinea, where human-made mounds have yielded artefacts such as shells and pottery, indicating a significant cultural presence. Brian Egloff's 1979 thesis contextualizes these findings within a broader historical and geographical framework, dating the artefacts to approximately 1,500 to 500 years before present. The research draws on earlier theories linking Austronesian culture to megalithic practices in the Pacific and Jomon pottery in Japan. Contributions from various anthropologists, including C.A.W. Monckton and Poch, are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of these artefacts in understanding cultural influences, migrations, and the development of cultural identities in Melanesia. The paper underscores the significance of these findings in reconstructing New Guinea's human history and the ongoing scholarly discourse surrounding the region’s archaeological importance.

Keywords

Language
English (en-GB)

Creators
Spriggs, Matthew

Contributors

Sources
In: L. Bolton, T. Nicholas, E. Bonshek, J. Adams, & B. Burt (Éds.), Melanesia : Art and Encounter (p. 7‑10). British Museum Press.

Relation
https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/items/6895476a-e22b-4b25-bf65-7ea9e231e297

Coverage
Papua New Guinea, Melanesia

Name of newspaper