3MT Spotlight: Uncovering the first arrival of humans in Western Micronesia
It is estimated that humans crossed the treacherous Pacific Ocean into Western Micronesia over 3,000 years ago. This voyage into what is now called the Belauan (Palauan) Islands was an incredible feat by sailors but due to a lack of artefacts and evidence, much of this journey remains a mystery to archaeologists.
“To travel 1,500 km in open ocean without modern technology is a remarkable feat – and people made this voyage at least 3000 years ago, maybe even earlier.”
Jalene Nalbant, a PhD scholar at the ANU School of Culture, History & Language within the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, wants to solve the mysteries surrounding the first human migration into the area. Their research investigates when humans first arrived in the Belauan (Palauan) Island group in Western Micronesia.
Jalene says there is a considerable research gap in this area due to various obstacles which have prevented traditional archaeology from finding answers about when and how the first Palauans arrived in the region.
The degradation of organic artefacts in the humid tropical climate, the remoteness of the Islands and budget constraints have inhibited archaeological excavation and investigation. This means finding a precise date on human settlement in the area is particularly challenging, but it is a challenge Jalene is eager to take on.
“I am very ambitious with my project. If I can find irrefutable evidence of early human arrival on Belau using non-traditional archaeological methods, maybe other people will adopt non-traditional methods to answer questions in archaeology,” they explained.
Jalene will present their research at the upcoming 2024 ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 3-Minute-Thesis Competition (3MT). They will discuss non-traditional archaeological methods and how they can help find answers to human migration into Western Micronesia during their 3MT presentation.
“I will not be using traditional archaeological methods, so come along to hear how I plan to find early evidence of humans in Belau,” they said.
Being able to communicate complex research to a wide audience is an essential skill for PhD scholars. Jalene considers the competition as a chance to hone their presentation skills and learn from audience feedback.
“I love a challenge. To consider how I can use minimal visuals to communicate my project is exciting to me. People should see the variety of research happening in our college,” they said.
The 2024 ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 3-Minute-Thesis Competition is not just about presenting research; it is about storytelling. The competition challenges participants to captivate audiences and craft a narrative from their work. Participants will have three minutes to present their research with one PowerPoint slide. The winner will receive a $500 prize and entry into the ANU 3MT final, with a chance to claim a $4,000 grand prize.
The College wishes Jalene all the best in their endeavours at the 2024 3MT competition and encourages all members of our community to attend the event and see the incredible research being undertaken across the College by our talented HDR students.