Austronesians And The Lapita Archaeological Complex

Question 1

The Importance of New Guinea

Answer 1

1. Root crop agriculture established (Taro; Yams)
2. Tree crop horticulture established (Bananas; Pandanus; Canarium)
3. All critical crops and techniques for survival on Pacific Islands
4. Plant production

Question 2

Papua New Guinea

Answer 2

1. Agriculture at Wahgi Valley by 6000 BP
2. Pig revolution
   2.1 Pigs arrive ca. 3500-4000 years ago (Originated in S. Asia; Got there by canoe (brought them); Probably piglets cause easier to handle)
   2.2 Pulled into preexisting agricultural system (Eat sugary carbohydrates and sometimes meat if they can get to it; Eat a lot (3-4 lbs of feed a day))
   2.3 Shifting cultivation

Question 3

Papuan Society

Answer 3

1. Pigs store wealth
2. Also use investment and gifts to store social wealth
3. Papuan society is not hierarchical
4. Individuals who do actions gain status - become “Big Men”

Question 4

Papuan Society: Ongka’s Big Moka Video

Answer 4

1. Big Man trying to get others to raise pigs for him
2. Outdo fellow men in Moka (Need help from other people; Persuade them to help)
3. One wide looks after pigs for him
4. Yell at people to get to work (In their garden, fenced to keep pigs out mainly and other people from raiding garden)
5. He has to travel a lot to get around his settlement
6. Four wives each has own house and he has own house (House combined with pig pen so people don’t steal them)
7. Structure of status in society based on achievements
8. Different kind of society than rest looking at

Question 5

The Other Societies of Papua New Guinea: The Austronesian Speakers

Answer 5

1. Wasesa Tribe of the Birds Head, West Papua
2. On islands and coastal parts of bigger islands

Question 6

Who were the Austronesians?

Answer 6

1. SE Asia (S. China)/Taiwan/Mainland Asia
2. Also Philippines, Wallacea
3. Coastal dwellers, sea farers (House on stilts, driveway for boat)
4. Founder - ancestor ideology (Talk about ancestors as founders or some kind on lineage)
5. Austronesian speakers

Question 7

The “Out of Taiwan” Model

Answer 7

1. Peter Bellwood
2. Ceramics and languages link Taiwan to Bismarcks (Ceramics 4-5000 years old; Head south to Philippines and see similar languages and structure (9 languages in one archipelago))
3. Possible ancestor of Lapita culture (Languages suggest start of language)

Question 8

Taiwan and the Philippines

Answer 8

1. Philippines N —> S gradient of languages
2. Taiwan clusters of languages (Suggest long term geographical variables)

Question 9

Archaeological Connections

Answer 9

1. 4500-5000 BP, Taiwan, and Northern Philippines (Red slipped pottery; (Not from here but picture example) Globe pot good for carrying water because small opening doesn’t spill water (Designs pressed on); Shell tools)
2. 4000 BP, Sulawesi, and Halmahera (Similar artifacts)

Question 10

Reconstruction based upon linguistic comparison

Answer 10

1. Shared words
2. Sound shifts
3. Innovations
4. Reconstruction of relationships between languages
5. Proto Austronesian into Formosan (Taiwan) and Malayo Polynesian
   5.1 Malayo Polynesian break into Western MP and Central/Eastern MP
   5.2 Central/Eastern MP break into Central and Eastern MP
   5.3 Central MP goes to Lesser Sundas
   5.4 Eastern MP into Southern Halmeses and Oceania

Question 11

“Out of Taiwan” with New Genetic Analyses: Soares et al. 2016

Answer 11

1. Two migrations: (cheek swab)
   1.1 4500 years ago, from mainland Southeast Asia to West Indonesia
   1.2 4000 years ago from Taiwan to Philippines
2. Brought Austronesian language but few people (only 20% of population)
3. 80% of people descended from the Pleistocene colonization of Sunda/Sahul (Colonization, religion, standard transaction (trade) why take on smaller language)

Question 12

Lipson et al. 2018

Answer 12

1. Analysis of ancient DNA from skeletons
2. Comparison to modern DNA (Suggest multiple migrations; Population of Lapita genetically different from modern niVanuatu)