World conference focuses on PNG archaeology

TWO PNG archaeologists were terribly shocked to hear the world debating Papua New Guinea archaeology in a recent Australia Archaeological Association conference in Cairns, Australia.

The conference is an annual event which attracts hundreds of people to debate about the Australian, Pacific and the South East Asian archaeology.

Among the more than 500 academics, archaeologists, students, consultants and interested persons from Australia and around the world, Jason Kariwiga and Teppsy Beni, from the University of Papua New Guinea, were also present.

The recent three-day conference marked the Australia Archaeological Association’s (AAA) 37th meeting.

During the conference, participants heard over 300 presentations under the theme of culture, climate change and archaeology in the tropics.

For Mr Kariwiga and Ms Beni, it was a first time experience for both to attend an AAA conference and it was an opportunity to listen to and measure the current direction of Australian and Pacific archaeology. It was also a chance to establish new networks with professionals from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

"The conference has been an eye-opener, not only because we got to meet many leading archaeologists and listen to some great presentations, but the fact that PNG and Melanesian archaeology was acknowledged as integral throughout the conference. This really shows our region’s importance," Mr Kariwiga said.

He said when asked why PNG archaeology was being discussed at an Australian conference, joint convenor of the sessions, Dr Matthew Leavesley of James Cook University together with Dr Anne Ford of University of Otago replied that PNG was fundamental to Australian archaeology.

"Australia and New Guinea were once joined by land across the Torres Strait and therefore we have a shared history that can only be accessed through archaeology," Dr Leavesley said.

PNG Today /Post Courier