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New Guinea is as Asian as it is Pacific

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What do you get when the divide between ‘Pacific’ and ‘Asia’ isn’t a divide at all? The answer: New Guinea. Research findings indicate that New Guinea, always considered part of the Pacific, has in fact had long-lasting connections with mainland Asia that have left a deep impact on the cultures found along the corridor between them. So despite the obvious changes in language, religion and more recently national affiliation, we can still find similarities in aspects of the languages, backed up by the archaeological and genetic record. This indicates a long period of continuous contact, and a fascinating shift in our geographical perception. 

Mark Donohue
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A complex contact story but I do not agree with the premise nor that the archeological and genetic record is 'evidence' any more that the original inhabitants came out of Africa therefore the false idea can be considered that they are similar to Africans. Descendants from the original Papuan and Australian aboriginal have a deep culture and are vastly different from Asians; they probably spent at least 25,000 years isolated from Asia before the 2nd migration into Asia from the mid-east occurred. This isolation occurred in a critical period of human evolution when homo SS developed language and culture. If you consider only the tiny Polynesian population then maybe you have more justification - they are influenced by Papuan and Asian culture but predominantly by the Papuan in food and lifestyle.
Eric Coote 4 years 9 months ago

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