A template for recording material culture, and a comparison of four Oceanic societies

Abstract

This paper compares the material culture of four societies in the Melanesian region of the Pacific, employing a novel template and analysis, considering both qualitative and quantitative differences. Two of the societies (the Hubula and Wola peoples) are in the highland region of New Guinea, the other two (Kiwai and Admirality) are located on the coastal region of New Guinea and a nearby island group. The results identify a core set of technologies in the highland region that is presumed to be associated with the earliest settlers, as distinct from more recently arrived technologies that are confined to the coastal region and islands. Several hypotheses are proposed concerning links between material culture, environment and history.