Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

Chris Urwin; James W. Rhoads; Joshua A. Bell

doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34

Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

Chris Urwin, James W. Rhoads, Joshua A. Bell

Monash Indigenous Studies Centre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The Papuan Gulf’s littoral coastline has been emerging and transforming since the late Pleistocene. Large river deltas such as the Fly, Kikori, and Purari transport sediments into the Coral Sea, and these are reworked by prevailing tides and seasonal currents to form a world of sand and swamps that Papuan Gulf peoples inhabit. This article reviews the archaeology of key sites in the region and identifies themes for future explorations of the region’s rich heritage. It explores how the region’s delta-dwelling societies occupied, modified, and made sense of their relatively fluid physical environments. Two aspects are explored in detail: (1) the potential to historicize the emergence of sago cultivation and its role in sustaining local settlements and long-distance trade; and (2) the contribution of nuanced spatial histories of migration and place-making to the region’s narrative.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea
Editors	Ian J. McNiven, Bruno David
Place of Publication	Oxford UK
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	30
Pages	803-830
Number of pages	28
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9780190095642
ISBN (Print)	9780190095611, 9780190095628
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34
Publication status	Published - 2023

Keywords

Rivers deltas
Coastal archaeology
Papuan Gulf
Place-making
Spatial history
Sago

Access to Document

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34

1 Book
1 Edited Book
1 Chapter (Book)

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea
McNiven, I. J. (Editor) & David, B. (Editor), 2023, 1st ed. New York NY USA: Oxford University Press. 1151 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Edited Book › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
Building and Remembering: An Archaeology of Place-Making on Papua New Guinea's South Coast
Urwin, C., 2022, Honolulu Hawaii: University of Hawai‘i Press. 262 p. (Pacific Islands Archaeology)
Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
Remembering removal: Indigenous narratives of colonial collecting practices in the Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea)
Urwin, C., 2022, The Routledge Companion to Global Indigenous History. McGrath, A. & Russell, L. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon Oxon UK: Routledge, p. 481-499 19 p. (Routledge Companion).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

1 Active

ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage
Roberts, R. G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), O'Connor, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Lawson, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jacobs, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cohen, T. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Haberle, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bird, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ulm, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Nakata, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Cooper, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bradshaw, C. J. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Weyrich, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), David, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Russell AM, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Brook, B. W. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Johnson, C. N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Asmussen, B. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Knowles, C. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Torrence, R. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Slack, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Delannoy, J. J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Leavesley, M. G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Miller, G. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Schiffels, S. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Storey, M. (Partner Investigator (PI)), McNiven, I. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Agostinho, S. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Muller, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Llamas, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mitchell, K. J. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Way, A. (Partner Investigator (PI))
Monash University – Internal University Contribution, Monash University – Internal Faculty Contribution, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Rock Art Australia Limited (trading as Kimberley Foundation Australia)
30/06/17 → 31/10/26
Project: Research

1 Contribution to conference

Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery weekly seminar series
Urwin, C. (Invited speaker)
8 Nov 2019
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference

Publication Subsidy Scheme, Australian Academy of the Humanities
Urwin, C. (Recipient), 30 Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

Cite this

@inbook{cbd236fae6ff4305a41b5a93ae7367fd,

title = "Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea",

abstract = "The Papuan Gulf{\textquoteright}s littoral coastline has been emerging and transforming since the late Pleistocene. Large river deltas such as the Fly, Kikori, and Purari transport sediments into the Coral Sea, and these are reworked by prevailing tides and seasonal currents to form a world of sand and swamps that Papuan Gulf peoples inhabit. This article reviews the archaeology of key sites in the region and identifies themes for future explorations of the region{\textquoteright}s rich heritage. It explores how the region{\textquoteright}s delta-dwelling societies occupied, modified, and made sense of their relatively fluid physical environments. Two aspects are explored in detail: (1) the potential to historicize the emergence of sago cultivation and its role in sustaining local settlements and long-distance trade; and (2) the contribution of nuanced spatial histories of migration and place-making to the region{\textquoteright}s narrative.",

keywords = "Rivers deltas, Coastal archaeology, Papuan Gulf, Place-making, Spatial history, Sago",

author = "Chris Urwin and Rhoads, {James W.} and Bell, {Joshua A.}",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780190095611",

pages = "803--830",

editor = "McNiven, {Ian J. } and David, {Bruno }",

booktitle = "The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

address = "United Kingdom",

edition = "1st",

}

Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea. / Urwin, Chris; Rhoads, James W.; Bell, Joshua A.
The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea. ed. / Ian J. McNiven; Bruno David. 1st. ed. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press, 2023. p. 803-830.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

AU - Urwin, Chris

AU - Rhoads, James W.

AU - Bell, Joshua A.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - The Papuan Gulf’s littoral coastline has been emerging and transforming since the late Pleistocene. Large river deltas such as the Fly, Kikori, and Purari transport sediments into the Coral Sea, and these are reworked by prevailing tides and seasonal currents to form a world of sand and swamps that Papuan Gulf peoples inhabit. This article reviews the archaeology of key sites in the region and identifies themes for future explorations of the region’s rich heritage. It explores how the region’s delta-dwelling societies occupied, modified, and made sense of their relatively fluid physical environments. Two aspects are explored in detail: (1) the potential to historicize the emergence of sago cultivation and its role in sustaining local settlements and long-distance trade; and (2) the contribution of nuanced spatial histories of migration and place-making to the region’s narrative.

AB - The Papuan Gulf’s littoral coastline has been emerging and transforming since the late Pleistocene. Large river deltas such as the Fly, Kikori, and Purari transport sediments into the Coral Sea, and these are reworked by prevailing tides and seasonal currents to form a world of sand and swamps that Papuan Gulf peoples inhabit. This article reviews the archaeology of key sites in the region and identifies themes for future explorations of the region’s rich heritage. It explores how the region’s delta-dwelling societies occupied, modified, and made sense of their relatively fluid physical environments. Two aspects are explored in detail: (1) the potential to historicize the emergence of sago cultivation and its role in sustaining local settlements and long-distance trade; and (2) the contribution of nuanced spatial histories of migration and place-making to the region’s narrative.

KW - Rivers deltas

KW - Coastal archaeology

KW - Papuan Gulf

KW - Place-making

KW - Spatial history

KW - Sago

U2 - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34

DO - 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190095611.013.34

M3 - Chapter (Book)

SN - 9780190095611

SN - 9780190095628

SP - 803

EP - 830

BT - The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea

A2 - McNiven, Ian J.

A2 - David, Bruno

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - Oxford UK

ER -

Swamp and delta societies of the Papuan Gulf, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Research output

The Oxford Handbook of the Archaeology of Indigenous Australia and New Guinea

Building and Remembering: An Archaeology of Place-Making on Papua New Guinea's South Coast

Remembering removal: Indigenous narratives of colonial collecting practices in the Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea)

Projects

ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage

Activities

Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery weekly seminar series

Prizes

Publication Subsidy Scheme, Australian Academy of the Humanities

Cite this