TY - JOUR
T1 - Engraved prehistoric Conus shell valuables from southeastern Papua New Guinea: their antiquity, motifs and distribution
AU - Ambrose, Wallace
AU - Swadling, Pamela
AU - Petchey, Fiona
AU - Beran, Harry
AU - Bonshek, Elizabeth
AU - Szabo, Katherine
AU - Bickler, Simon
AU - Summerhayes, Glenn
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - In the early 1900s thirteen engraved Conus shell valuables were dug from prehistoric midden mounds in Oro Province. Since the early 1970s nineteen undated surface finds have been found in the northern Massim of Milne Bay Province. When three artifacts became available for AMS radiocarbon dating, provided they were restored after sampling to their original visual appearance, a specialist team was assembled and this paper reports its findings regarding the thirty-two shells. The paper covers sampling and conservation, dating (including new information on the local oceanic reservoir effect), distribution, art, depositional and cultural histories. These distinctive Conus shell valuables are part of the material culture found along the northern coast of the eastern tip of New Guinea and on the islands of the northern Massim during the Expansion Phase c.1000-500 BP. Their decoration is comparable to that produced by Milne Bay Province woodcarvers in historic times. This continuity makes them the oldest radiocarbon dated artifacts decorated in the Massim art style.
AB - In the early 1900s thirteen engraved Conus shell valuables were dug from prehistoric midden mounds in Oro Province. Since the early 1970s nineteen undated surface finds have been found in the northern Massim of Milne Bay Province. When three artifacts became available for AMS radiocarbon dating, provided they were restored after sampling to their original visual appearance, a specialist team was assembled and this paper reports its findings regarding the thirty-two shells. The paper covers sampling and conservation, dating (including new information on the local oceanic reservoir effect), distribution, art, depositional and cultural histories. These distinctive Conus shell valuables are part of the material culture found along the northern coast of the eastern tip of New Guinea and on the islands of the northern Massim during the Expansion Phase c.1000-500 BP. Their decoration is comparable to that produced by Milne Bay Province woodcarvers in historic times. This continuity makes them the oldest radiocarbon dated artifacts decorated in the Massim art style.
U2 - 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2012.tb00124.x
DO - 10.1002/j.1834-4453.2012.tb00124.x
M3 - Article
SN - 0003-8121
VL - 47
SP - 113
EP - 132
JO - Archaeology in Oceania
JF - Archaeology in Oceania
IS - 3
ER -