Latest news with #Papuans
Yahoo
20 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.
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Chaos at Australian-led Papua New Guinea anti-corruption commission
Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption body is in turmoil, sparked by infighting and allegations between the Australian and New Zealand bosses. The two Australian and one New Zealand commissioners have made criminal allegations against each other as PNG's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) looks set to crumble. Established in 2023, PNG's ICAC estimates the country loses up to $1.5bn every year to corruption. Reports from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report say corruption is endemic in PNG. Brisbane commercial lawyer Andrew Forbes is the ICAC commissioner. Former Victorian detective Daniel Baulch is a deputy commissioner, as is former New Zealand Serious Fraud Office executive Graham Gill. In September last year, a senior PNG ICAC official made a confidential affidavit, alleging the commissioner, Mr Forbes, had manipulated proposed laws to give himself the power to be the only person allowed to conduct compulsory questioning hearings in suspected corruption cases, The Age reported. 'We reasonably suspect that the commissioner has engaged in a course of corrupt conduct,' deputies Mr Gill and Mr Baulch wrote in a letter last year. An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Forbes; however, he obtained a court injunction against the warrant. Now, Mr Forbes has reported his deputies to police for alleged financial misconduct, related to travel and accommodation. They told the ABC that they had been 'subjected to retaliatory behaviour' and would 'strongly defend the allegations'. The ABC reports the deputies have both left PNG, and ICAC's expat staff – including many Australians – are likely to resign. The turmoil comes as PNG tries to avoid highly restrictive international money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures that would severely isolate the Oceanic nation, particularly families of Papuans living overseas who receive money from their expatriate relatives. 'When you look at the context of corruption in PNG, it is fair to say that 20 per cent of government spending is lost through corruption, waste or error in any given year,' Mr Gill said in July. NewsWire has reached out to Mr Forbes for comment.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Chaos at Aussie-led PNG anti-corruption body
Papua New Guinea's anti-corruption body is in turmoil, sparked by infighting and allegations between the Australian and New Zealand bosses. The two Australian and one New Zealand commissioners have made criminal allegations against each other as PNG's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) looks set to crumble. Established in 2023, PNG's ICAC estimates the country loses up to $1.5bn every year to corruption. Reports from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade report say corruption is endemic in PNG. Brisbane commercial lawyer Andrew Forbes is the ICAC commissioner. Former Victorian detective Daniel Baulch is a deputy commissioner, as is former New Zealand Serious Fraud Office executive Graham Gill. In September last year, a senior PNG ICAC official made a confidential affidavit, alleging the commissioner, Mr Forbes, had manipulated proposed laws to give himself the power to be the only person allowed to conduct compulsory questioning hearings in suspected corruption cases, The Age reported. 'We reasonably suspect that the commissioner has engaged in a course of corrupt conduct,' deputies Mr Gill and Mr Baulch wrote in a letter last year. An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Forbes; however, he obtained a court injunction against the warrant. Now, Mr Forbes has reported his deputies to police for alleged financial misconduct, related to travel and accommodation. They told the ABC that they had been 'subjected to retaliatory behaviour' and would 'strongly defend the allegations'. Papua New Guinea's Independent Commission Against Corruption was established in 2023. PNG ICAC Credit: Supplied The ABC reports the deputies have both left PNG, and ICAC's expat staff – including many Australians – are likely to resign. The turmoil comes as PNG tries to avoid highly restrictive international money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures that would severely isolate the Oceanic nation, particularly families of Papuans living overseas who receive money from their expatriate relatives. 'When you look at the context of corruption in PNG, it is fair to say that 20 per cent of government spending is lost through corruption, waste or error in any given year,' Mr Gill said in July. NewsWire has reached out to Mr Forbes for comment.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Prabowo backs Papua New Guinea's Asean bid
KUALA LUMPUR: President Prabowo Subianto (pic) has voiced support for Papua New Guinea's bid to join Asean, saying that the move would boost the bloc's influence and resilience amid growing geopolitical uncertainty. Speaking during a closed plenary session of the Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (May 26), the President revealed that PNG had expressed interest in becoming a member of the South-East Asian nations grouping, describing the country as a 'close neighbour' of Indonesia. 'In the current situation of geopolitical uncertainty, the stronger Asean is, the more we will be heard in the discourse of the great powers,' Prabowo said, as quoted by an official statement. 'We know now that only those with strength will be respected,' he continued. Indonesia shares an 800-kilometre land border with PNG. The border remains an issue for both countries but is periodically reviewed by Jakarta and Port Moresby, which has been a 'continuing positive trend'. Jakarta has sought to nurture its ties with its eastern neighbour due to the cultural proximity of its people to the indigenous Papuans, who are allowed to cross the border with greater ease than other residents. During Monday's session, which focused on the future direction of the regional grouping, Prabowo also emphasized the need to bolster Asean's unity and stability to enhance its global standing. Home to over 680 million people, Asean currently consists of ten member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Timor-Leste, which has observer status, is set to become the bloc's 11th member at the next regional summit in October. Prabowo welcomed Timor-Leste's upcoming accession and reaffirmed Indonesia's full support during his plenary remarks. 'With the increasing membership of Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, I think this will also enhance Asean's role in the world,' Prabowo said. Leaders of 11 Southeast Asian nations convened in Kuala Lumpur on Monday for a two-day summit. Aside from Timor-Leste's accession into the bloc, they set their sights on potential economic fallout from United States President Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariff' policy, while also ramping up pressure on Myanmar's warring factions to engage in peace talks. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Rising Military Operations In West Papua Spark Concerns About Displacement Of Indigenous Papuans
Article – RNZ The leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says women and children are being forced to leave their villages because of escalating conflict. Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific Journalist A West Papua independence leader says escalating violence is forcing indigenous Papuans to flee their ancestral lands. It comes as the Indonesian military claims 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) were killed in an hour-long operation in Intan Jaya on 14 May. In a statement, reported by Kompas Daily, Indonesia's military said its presence is 'not to intimidate the people' but to protect them from violence. 'We will not allow the people of Papua to live in fear in their own land,' it said. Indonesia's military said it seized firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows. They also took morning star flags – used as a symbol for West Papuan independence – and communication equipment. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) interim president Benny Wenda, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, told RNZ Pacific that seven villages in Ilaga, Puncak Regency in Central Papua are now being attacked. 'The current military escalation in West Papua has now been building for months. Initially targeting Intan Jaya, the Indonesian military have since broadened their attacks into other highlands Regencies, including Puncak,' he said. Wenda said women and children are being forced to leave their villages because of escalating conflict, often from drone attacks or airstrikes. Earlier this month, ULMWP claimed one civilian and another was seriously injured after being shot at from a helicopter. Last week, ULMWP shared a video of a group of indigenous Papuans walking through mountains holding an Indonesian flag, which Wenda said was a symbol of surrender. 'They look at us as primitive and they look at us as subhuman,' Wenda said. He said the increased military presence was driven by resources. President Prabowo Subianto's administration has a goal to be able to feed Indonesia's population without imports as early as 2028. A video statement from tribes in Mappi Regency in South Papua from about a month ago, translated to English, said they rejected Indonesia's food project and asked companies to leave. In the video, about a dozen Papuans stood while one said the clans in the region had existed on customary land for generations and that companies had surveyed land without consent. 'We firmly ask the local government, the regent, Mappi Regency to immediately review the permits and revoke the company's permits,' the person speaking said. Wenda said the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) had also grown. But he said many of the TPNPB were using bow and arrows against modern weapons. 'I call them home guard because there's nowhere to go.'
