LATE-PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE OBSIDIAN TRANSFER IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Authors

Matthew C. Leavesley, University of Papua New GuineaFollow
Caroline Read, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

Obsidian analysis allows for archaeologists to investigate notions of trade and exchange over vast areas of land and sea. Here we report the results of Particle Induced X-ray Emission-Particle Induced Gamma-Ray Emission analysis undertaken on obsidian excavated from Buang Merabak, a Pleistocene cave site in central New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. Although the dataset is relatively small, it provides new information reflecting cultural connectivity as early as 20,000 (uncalib) bp. Also, it provides a valuable opportunity to re-evaluate some pre-existing models of trade and exchange. The data support the notion that there may have been more than one trade/exchange network in operation during the PIeistocene and, also, broadly supports the Summerhayes spatio-temporal model for the mid- to late-Holocene.

Recommended Citation

Leavesley, Matthew C. and Read, Caroline (2011) "LATE-PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE OBSIDIAN TRANSFER IN THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, PAPUA NEW GUINEA," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 34: No. 1, Article 2.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol34/iss1/2