Study reveals ‘rich tapestry' of cultures
Unlocking the first ancient genomes (aDNA) from Papua New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago has allowed Otago scientists to take a significant step forward in understanding the genetic diversity of the nation and those in the wider Pacific.
It has helped bring clarity to the great migration of early Pacific pioneers, considered to be ancestors of many Pacific people, including Māori.
Monica Tromp. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Research co-author and University of Otago Southern Pacific Archaeological Research project manager Dr Monica Tromp said aDNA acted like "a time machine", revealing how people lived and interacted thousands of years ago, and how those connections still influence our world.
By combining aDNA with dietary evidence and linguistics, the study revealed how the pre-colonial coastal communities were surprisingly genetically diverse from each other, and suggested many cultural groups did not intermarry for some time.
The research revealed "Pacific Island cultures were far more diverse and complex than we ever imagined".
"Rather than being one unified group, these ancient communities represented a rich tapestry of different cultures and peoples."
New Guinea was settled more than 50,000 years ago, and served as a launch point for seafaring journeys into the wider Pacific.
About 3300 years ago, the Lapita people — considered the earliest ancestors of many Pacific people, including Māori — settled in the Bismarck Archipelago, which became the cradle of the Lapita cultural complex.
They were renowned for their intricate pottery and horticultural practices, and embarked on voyages that reached as far as Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa.
Rebecca Kinaston. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Until now, the genomic legacy of these early Pacific pioneers had remained unexplored.
Dr Tromp said one of the study's most striking findings was the presence of individuals with completely Papuan genetic signatures on the island of Watom, in the Bismarck Archipelago, where missionaries found the first Lapita-style pottery in the early 20th century.
The individuals excavated on the island were all younger than evidence for the arrival of the Lapita Cultural Complex.
"One of these individuals also displayed a rare case of cultural cranial modification, suggesting the co-occupation of the island by genetically and culturally different groups."
Co-lead author and BioArch South director Dr Rebecca Kinaston said despite the co-occupation, it seemed the groups did not mix for a long time.
The delay in intermarriage and the presence of people with Papuan ancestry might help answer a long-held question about whether the first settlers in the remote islands of Western Remote Oceania arrived unmixed, and mixed on the islands.
The new findings supported the scenario.
"Their ancestries started diverging 650 years ago, despite the absence of geographical borders."
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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