Latest news with #Lapita
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Ancient DNA from Papua New Guinea reveals centuries of genetic isolation
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The first ancient human genomes analyzed from Papua New Guinea reveal that some of the early groups that lived there were completely genetically isolated from their neighbors, showing there was little intermarriage at multiple points in time, a new study finds. New Guinea is the second largest island in the world, after Greenland. It and its outlying isles were vital launch points for early seafaring journeys into the wider Pacific, culminating with the settlement of some of the last islands on Earth to be permanently inhabited, scientists noted. However, until now, much remained unknown about its ancient genetic history. In a new study, researchers analyzed ancient DNA from the bones and teeth of 42 people who lived as long as 2,600 years ago on Papua New Guinea — the nation inhabiting the eastern half of New Guinea — and the nearby Bismarck Archipelago, northeast of the main island. "This was a very long time in the making," study co-lead author Kathrin Nägele, an archaeogeneticist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, told Live Science. "DNA preservation in tropical environments is extremely challenging." Previous research suggested that New Guinea and outlying areas were first settled more than 50,000 years ago. Much later, by about 3,300 years ago, new seafaring peoples with Asian ancestry arrived at the Bismarck Archipelago. This group, which archaeologists have dubbed the Lapita culture, is renowned for their intricate pottery and farming practices, which included raising pigs, dogs and chickens, as well as growing coconuts, bananas, yams and varieties of breadfruit. The new findings unexpectedly revealed the earliest known inhabitants of the Bismarck Archipelago and the Lapita people did not mix genetically for centuries. However, one individual examined suggested they were the result of intermixing about 2,100 years ago. "Despite the co-occupation, it seems the different groups didn't mix for a long time, which is quite unusual for human encounters," study co-lead author Rebecca Kinaston, an anthropologist and director of BioArch South, an archaeology and forensic anthropology consultancy in New Zealand, said in a statement. Related: Easter Island's population never collapsed because it never got that big, researchers suggest These findings also shed light on the ancestry of remote Oceanic islands such as Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. They support prior research that Papuans and the Lapita independently arrived at those distant isles and intermarried there, as opposed to mixing first at New Guinea and nearby isles and then voyaging to those remote lands. "It suggests the Papuans were separately capable of remarkable seafaring," Nägele said. "The seafaring hunter-gatherers on Papua New Guinea have likely been underestimated, just as hunter-gatherer societies tend to be underestimated all over." Another striking discovery occurred when the scientists analyzed two communities that inhabited the south coast of Papua New Guinea between 150 and 500 years ago. "Although these two communities only lived a few kilometers apart, they were unexpectedly genetically different," Nägele said. "Looking into the direct family relations between the two sites, we had to go six generations back to find a common ancestor, which means that for six generations, the two groups did not mix despite the close proximity and no geological barriers between them." Both groups had a mix of Papuan-related and Southeast Asia-related ancestries. One group, buried at the site Eriama, showed more of the Papuan-related ancestry compared to the site of Nebira, where Asian ancestry was the larger component. Why did these groups stop mixing with each other? One possibility is a climatically challenging time on New Guinea between 1,200 and 500 years ago, which may have seen increased El Niño events, such as major droughts. RELATED STORIES —Some of the 1st ice age humans who ventured into Americas came from China, DNA study suggests —Polynesians and Native Americans paired up 800 years ago, DNA reveals —Newly discovered 'ghost' lineage linked to ancient mystery population in Tibet, DNA study finds "Settlements were abandoned — people might have retreated to unknown places that were more viable," Nägele said. "We think wherever these people were, they started engaging in new trade networks. Nebira appeared to engage more with coastal groups, and Eriama more with inland groups from the highlands. This might have led to different identities, different cuisines, and other differences that led to cultural diversification." In the future, the researchers hope to collect older genetic data, as well as samples from the highlands of New Guinea and the first Asian-related people to arrive on the coast of the island. "Papua New Guinea is such a diverse place in so many regards, that we have only just scratched the surface of what is to learn about the past of the second largest island in the world," Nägele said. The scientists detailed their findings June 4 in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Mid East Info
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
MAKE MAGICAL MEMORIES THIS SUMMER AT LAPITA, DUBAI PARKS™ AND RESORTS AS KIDS STAY AND DINE FOR FREE - Middle East Business News and Information
Dubai, 08 May 2025: Lapita, Dubai Parks™ and Resorts is turning up the excitement this summer with the return of its popular Kids Go Free offer, perfect for families looking to combine relaxation with unforgettable theme park adventures. Running until 30th September, this exclusive summer deal invites families to experience the magic of Polynesia with two tailor-made packages that prioritize comfort, flexibility, and fun. Enjoy spacious room options, complimentary late check-out, and best of all, a free stay and dining for kids when accompanied by a paying adult. As an added bonus, guests will earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per stay. With unlimited access to world-class rides, attractions and live entertainment at Dubai Parks™ and Resorts, including MOTIONGATE™ Dubai, LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND® Water Park, RIVERLAND™ Dubai, and Real Madrid World, there's something for every member of the family to enjoy, making Lapita the ultimate summer destination. Guests can kick off their day with a wholesome breakfast, and for those seeking an all-inclusive experience, the full board package offers three delicious meals, with the freedom to explore the dining venues across the resort. An upgrade to the full board package is available for an additional supplement of AED 200 per adult and AED 100 per child. But the magic doesn't stop there! Little explorers will love meeting their favourite resort characters, cooling off with icy treats, and joining interactive activities like hydroponic farming. The Kids Club is packed with games and creative fun, while Ari Restaurant serves up poolside snacks and refreshing beverages for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, visit or call +971 4 810 9999. -ENDS-
The Advertiser
20-05-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
Australia helping Vanuatu with museum collection upkeep
When the first people arrived at the National Museum of Vanuatu after the monster 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Port Vila in December, they were distraught. "I'd never seen something like this before. It was all mess," museum curator Kaitip Kami told AAP. "Objects had fell off from their showcases, we had 13 showcases which were destroyed ... the museum didn't even look like a museum." Museum staff began a mighty clean-up effort, given the internal damage and displacement. Housed in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the museum holds art, cultural artefacts and taxidermied birds in its priceless collection. While the buildings have been cleared of structural damage, some pieces have been lost, including thousands-of-years-old Lapita pottery, smashed and unsalvageable among broken glass. Fortunately, Mr Kami reported ancestral remains were held on lower shelves, so "when they fell off, they were okay". Ni-Vanuatu norms necessitate the repair of broken items to be conducted only by the tribes from which they came. "In our culture, if you want to make or fix these objects, you have to have the right," Mr Kami, who hails from Malakula, said. "Some people from my island where I come from ... we have a lot of objects that were broken, so we have to get people from that island who own those artefacts, to fly all the way from the island to Port Vila. "Once we get the funds, we'll bring some people to come to fix the objects." Funding is at the heart of the challenge facing Vanuatu's curators as they attempt to preserve the Melanesian nation's unique history. Mr Kamo's position is funded by the government of Vanuatu - which is, per capita, the poorest nation in the Pacific - but he says there is no extra money for upkeep. They are fundraising online at to help the earthquake recovery but broader challenges remain. Museums require predictable climactic environments to store wares appropriately: a difficulty enhanced by the unrelenting heat of the Pacific and the various disasters, including earthquakes and cyclones that Vanuatu faces. Counterparts at the Australian Museum are also helping, visiting this month to scope the museum's needs. "They have a huge collection, a very important and significant collection here ... and it is overcrowded," Heather Bleechmore, of the Australian Museum, said. "They're operating with limited resources and limited budgets, human resources as well as finances. The building here is very good, but the infrastructure needs updating. "So the approach is to try and help the museum get as much control over the environment within the collection stores and within the gallery space as possible." The Australian Museum's outreach comes courtesy of the US Embassy, which last year funded a year-long "Pasifika Tahui" project to undertake missions to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga to "look at cultural revitalisation and preservation in the face of climate change". However, their own funding has a cliff, given the change of direction under US President Donald Trump, who has cut or frozen the bulk of American development assistance. Melissa Sutton said the Australian Museum - which holds a significant store of Pacific treasures in its own collection - would "100 per cent" be looking for future funding, which would benefit both the Pacific and Australian museums. "We're learning a lot about how to care appropriately for these cultural artifacts and the approach. It is a reciprocal relationship where we're also learning," the museum's Pasifika collection officer said. When the first people arrived at the National Museum of Vanuatu after the monster 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Port Vila in December, they were distraught. "I'd never seen something like this before. It was all mess," museum curator Kaitip Kami told AAP. "Objects had fell off from their showcases, we had 13 showcases which were destroyed ... the museum didn't even look like a museum." Museum staff began a mighty clean-up effort, given the internal damage and displacement. Housed in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the museum holds art, cultural artefacts and taxidermied birds in its priceless collection. While the buildings have been cleared of structural damage, some pieces have been lost, including thousands-of-years-old Lapita pottery, smashed and unsalvageable among broken glass. Fortunately, Mr Kami reported ancestral remains were held on lower shelves, so "when they fell off, they were okay". Ni-Vanuatu norms necessitate the repair of broken items to be conducted only by the tribes from which they came. "In our culture, if you want to make or fix these objects, you have to have the right," Mr Kami, who hails from Malakula, said. "Some people from my island where I come from ... we have a lot of objects that were broken, so we have to get people from that island who own those artefacts, to fly all the way from the island to Port Vila. "Once we get the funds, we'll bring some people to come to fix the objects." Funding is at the heart of the challenge facing Vanuatu's curators as they attempt to preserve the Melanesian nation's unique history. Mr Kamo's position is funded by the government of Vanuatu - which is, per capita, the poorest nation in the Pacific - but he says there is no extra money for upkeep. They are fundraising online at to help the earthquake recovery but broader challenges remain. Museums require predictable climactic environments to store wares appropriately: a difficulty enhanced by the unrelenting heat of the Pacific and the various disasters, including earthquakes and cyclones that Vanuatu faces. Counterparts at the Australian Museum are also helping, visiting this month to scope the museum's needs. "They have a huge collection, a very important and significant collection here ... and it is overcrowded," Heather Bleechmore, of the Australian Museum, said. "They're operating with limited resources and limited budgets, human resources as well as finances. The building here is very good, but the infrastructure needs updating. "So the approach is to try and help the museum get as much control over the environment within the collection stores and within the gallery space as possible." The Australian Museum's outreach comes courtesy of the US Embassy, which last year funded a year-long "Pasifika Tahui" project to undertake missions to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga to "look at cultural revitalisation and preservation in the face of climate change". However, their own funding has a cliff, given the change of direction under US President Donald Trump, who has cut or frozen the bulk of American development assistance. Melissa Sutton said the Australian Museum - which holds a significant store of Pacific treasures in its own collection - would "100 per cent" be looking for future funding, which would benefit both the Pacific and Australian museums. "We're learning a lot about how to care appropriately for these cultural artifacts and the approach. It is a reciprocal relationship where we're also learning," the museum's Pasifika collection officer said. When the first people arrived at the National Museum of Vanuatu after the monster 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Port Vila in December, they were distraught. "I'd never seen something like this before. It was all mess," museum curator Kaitip Kami told AAP. "Objects had fell off from their showcases, we had 13 showcases which were destroyed ... the museum didn't even look like a museum." Museum staff began a mighty clean-up effort, given the internal damage and displacement. Housed in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the museum holds art, cultural artefacts and taxidermied birds in its priceless collection. While the buildings have been cleared of structural damage, some pieces have been lost, including thousands-of-years-old Lapita pottery, smashed and unsalvageable among broken glass. Fortunately, Mr Kami reported ancestral remains were held on lower shelves, so "when they fell off, they were okay". Ni-Vanuatu norms necessitate the repair of broken items to be conducted only by the tribes from which they came. "In our culture, if you want to make or fix these objects, you have to have the right," Mr Kami, who hails from Malakula, said. "Some people from my island where I come from ... we have a lot of objects that were broken, so we have to get people from that island who own those artefacts, to fly all the way from the island to Port Vila. "Once we get the funds, we'll bring some people to come to fix the objects." Funding is at the heart of the challenge facing Vanuatu's curators as they attempt to preserve the Melanesian nation's unique history. Mr Kamo's position is funded by the government of Vanuatu - which is, per capita, the poorest nation in the Pacific - but he says there is no extra money for upkeep. They are fundraising online at to help the earthquake recovery but broader challenges remain. Museums require predictable climactic environments to store wares appropriately: a difficulty enhanced by the unrelenting heat of the Pacific and the various disasters, including earthquakes and cyclones that Vanuatu faces. Counterparts at the Australian Museum are also helping, visiting this month to scope the museum's needs. "They have a huge collection, a very important and significant collection here ... and it is overcrowded," Heather Bleechmore, of the Australian Museum, said. "They're operating with limited resources and limited budgets, human resources as well as finances. The building here is very good, but the infrastructure needs updating. "So the approach is to try and help the museum get as much control over the environment within the collection stores and within the gallery space as possible." The Australian Museum's outreach comes courtesy of the US Embassy, which last year funded a year-long "Pasifika Tahui" project to undertake missions to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga to "look at cultural revitalisation and preservation in the face of climate change". However, their own funding has a cliff, given the change of direction under US President Donald Trump, who has cut or frozen the bulk of American development assistance. Melissa Sutton said the Australian Museum - which holds a significant store of Pacific treasures in its own collection - would "100 per cent" be looking for future funding, which would benefit both the Pacific and Australian museums. "We're learning a lot about how to care appropriately for these cultural artifacts and the approach. It is a reciprocal relationship where we're also learning," the museum's Pasifika collection officer said. When the first people arrived at the National Museum of Vanuatu after the monster 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Port Vila in December, they were distraught. "I'd never seen something like this before. It was all mess," museum curator Kaitip Kami told AAP. "Objects had fell off from their showcases, we had 13 showcases which were destroyed ... the museum didn't even look like a museum." Museum staff began a mighty clean-up effort, given the internal damage and displacement. Housed in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, the museum holds art, cultural artefacts and taxidermied birds in its priceless collection. While the buildings have been cleared of structural damage, some pieces have been lost, including thousands-of-years-old Lapita pottery, smashed and unsalvageable among broken glass. Fortunately, Mr Kami reported ancestral remains were held on lower shelves, so "when they fell off, they were okay". Ni-Vanuatu norms necessitate the repair of broken items to be conducted only by the tribes from which they came. "In our culture, if you want to make or fix these objects, you have to have the right," Mr Kami, who hails from Malakula, said. "Some people from my island where I come from ... we have a lot of objects that were broken, so we have to get people from that island who own those artefacts, to fly all the way from the island to Port Vila. "Once we get the funds, we'll bring some people to come to fix the objects." Funding is at the heart of the challenge facing Vanuatu's curators as they attempt to preserve the Melanesian nation's unique history. Mr Kamo's position is funded by the government of Vanuatu - which is, per capita, the poorest nation in the Pacific - but he says there is no extra money for upkeep. They are fundraising online at to help the earthquake recovery but broader challenges remain. Museums require predictable climactic environments to store wares appropriately: a difficulty enhanced by the unrelenting heat of the Pacific and the various disasters, including earthquakes and cyclones that Vanuatu faces. Counterparts at the Australian Museum are also helping, visiting this month to scope the museum's needs. "They have a huge collection, a very important and significant collection here ... and it is overcrowded," Heather Bleechmore, of the Australian Museum, said. "They're operating with limited resources and limited budgets, human resources as well as finances. The building here is very good, but the infrastructure needs updating. "So the approach is to try and help the museum get as much control over the environment within the collection stores and within the gallery space as possible." The Australian Museum's outreach comes courtesy of the US Embassy, which last year funded a year-long "Pasifika Tahui" project to undertake missions to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga to "look at cultural revitalisation and preservation in the face of climate change". However, their own funding has a cliff, given the change of direction under US President Donald Trump, who has cut or frozen the bulk of American development assistance. Melissa Sutton said the Australian Museum - which holds a significant store of Pacific treasures in its own collection - would "100 per cent" be looking for future funding, which would benefit both the Pacific and Australian museums. "We're learning a lot about how to care appropriately for these cultural artifacts and the approach. It is a reciprocal relationship where we're also learning," the museum's Pasifika collection officer said.
Mid East Info
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
CELEBRATE EID AL-FITR WITH LAPITA, DUBAI PARKS™ AND RESORTS
Dubai, 12 March 2025: Get ready for the ultimate getaway this Eid Al Fitr at Lapita, Dubai Parks™ and Resorts! Taking place from Monday, 31st March to Wednesday, 2nd April the Eid Al Fitr Lu'Wow Weekender promises an unforgettable staycation for families at Dubai's only five-star Polynesian-themed destination. Room packages start from AED 1,199++ per night, offering the perfect opportunity for a relaxing and festive escape, with a hearty breakfast each morning to begin the day. The Eid Al Fitr Brunch at Kalea Restaurant on April 1st offers mouthwatering dishes, live oud music, and special appearances by Shabiat Al Cartoon for the little ones to meet their favourite characters! Guests can enjoy soft beverages for AED 299 per person or opt for the house beverages package at AED 399 per person. For those looking to unwind or test their brainpower, the Quiz Night will put their knowledge to the test, while a peaceful yoga session at Kalea Garden offers the ideal way to relax and recharge. And that's not all! Children will also have a blast with a wide range of tailored activities. From the friendly faces at the petting zoo to exciting sustainability sessions, there's no shortage of ways to keep the little ones entertained. And for the competitive spirits, the Kids' Olympics is the perfect way to burn off that holiday energy! With free access to Dubai Parks™ and Resorts' thrilling theme parks, including MOTIONGATE™ Dubai, Real Madrid World, LEGOLAND® Dubai, LEGOLAND® Water Park, RIVERLAND™ Dubai, and Neon Galaxy Indoor Playworld, the Eid Al Fitr Lu'Wow Weekender combines relaxation and thrill like no other! For more information, visit or call +971 4 810 9999 for reservations.
