Search

This paper examines the chronologies of three abandoned village sites in an attempt to refine the timing of occupation of low-lying mud islands of the lower Kikori River delta, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Despite evidence for varying degrees of post-depositional disturbance at all three sites, meaningful chronological data can be obtained from the dating of in situ longhouse posts. These new data suggest that although initial delta island occupation probably began around 400–500 years ago as an initial response to new opportunities relating to the hiri trade, the very large villages ethnohistorically recorded for the delta islands may only have attained their impressive sizes somewhat later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Bayesian modelling on a long sequence of radiocarbon ages from the archaeological site of Nawarla Gabarnmang, central Arnhem Land plateau, northern Australia. A horizon of wind-borne sediments containing flaked stone artefacts and charcoal commencing >45,610 cal BP (the young end of the modelled boundary age range, which extends beyond the limit of the calibration curve), with a median modelled age of 48,500 cal BP, signals the onset of aeolian mobilisation of fine sands and silts across the landscape, and re-deposition within the site at a time synchronous with the first evidence of people. This earliest cultural horizon (Stratigraphic Unit 4) contains 509 stone artefacts, and is marked by a contemporaneous sedimentary break, from underlying culturally sterile sediments consisting of disintegrating roof-fall and in situ sandstone and quartzite to overlying culturally-rich wind-blown sand. The new radiocarbon ages and wind-blown sediments together provide evidence for the commencement of noticeable landscape burning on the Arnhem Land plateau c. 48,500 cal BP, suggesting an intensification of landscape management practices at the summit of the Arnhem Land plateau some 10,000–15,000 years after the lowest dense band of artefacts (Phase 2) at Madjedbebe on the floodplains 90 km to the north. These results have ramifications for the structure and timing of the spread of people across Australia, and the extinction of megafauna in Sahul. • Radiocarbon ages spanning the past c. 48,500 years of human occupation are presented for Nawarla Gabarnmang, north Australia. • Earliest flaked stone artefacts and in situ charcoal appear in tandem. • The first stone artefacts and charcoal appear within the site with the onset of aeolian sediments. • The earliest artefacts, in situ charcoal and aeolian sediments overlie soft sediments originating from roof-fall. • The onset of aeolian sediments with artefacts and charcoal in the site suggest anthropic landscape modifications 45,610–52,160 years ago. • These results suggest permanent occupation of the rugged Arnhem Land plateau > 10,000 years after the northern floodplains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called "Genyornis" rockshelter site on the Arnhem Land plateau, northern Australia, features a painting of a large bird that some archaeologists and paleontologists have suggested could be an image of the megafaunal species Genyornis newtoni, until recently widely thought to have become extinct some 45,000 years ago. However, a recent archaeological-geomorphological study has concluded that the rock surface that contains the large, enigmatic bird painting only became exposed during overhang collapse between 13,739-13,976 cal BP, so the rock art on this panel can only be more recent than this age. It is, therefore, most unlikely to represent a Genyornis bird. Using a range of analytical techniques, here we report on the geochemistry (microstructure and chemistry) of the sequence of microlayers that makes up the "surface" of the rock at the "Genyornis" site. Our aim is to provide insights into the composition, preparation, source, application, weathering and preservation of pigment used in the making of the paintings, and to clarify the superimpositional order and relationships between the enigmatic large bird painting originally thought to possibly be of a Genyornis, and other nearby images. Micro-stratigraphic superimpositions show that the earliest painting was of a large anthropomorph, followed sometime later by the simultaneous painting of the large enigmatic ("Genyornis") bird image together with a barbed spear image embedded in it. This significantly alters the perception of the paintings on the wall of this rockshelter, with relegation of the anthropomorph to the background, followed by the image of a speared large bird. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on archaeological excavations undertaken at Kumukumu 1 atop the dense rainforest-clad Aird Hills of the Kikori river delta islands, south coast of Papua New Guinea. Results indicate exploitation of the nearby environment, including the gathering of some 200 million shellfish from riverine habitats at the base of the hill some 600 years ago, and deposition of shell remains onto hilltop middens. We ask what the implications of such a site in a defensive location on the upper, steep hillslope of Kumukumu hill are for regional occupation and dynamics. We conclude that the hinterland-marine fringe islands of the river deltas that include the site of Kumukumu 1 were especially sensitive to heightened cross-cultural influences and inter-group raids and competition, leading to accelerated processes of centralisation and aggrandisement among some groups, and the subjugation, fragmentation and dispersal of less powerful neighbouring groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]