Mapping the bio-cultural impact of Papuan migrations into Wallacea. This project aims to explore the movement of Papuan genes, culture, and languages into Wallacea in the past 15,000 years. Multidisci

Description

Mapping the bio-cultural impact of Papuan migrations into Wallacea. This project aims to explore the movement of Papuan genes, culture, and languages into Wallacea in the past 15,000 years. Multidisciplinary evidence suggests that New Guinea has been a key bio-cultural progenitor for contemporary Wallacean societies, though the underlying historical movements and exchange mechanisms remain poorly understood. By generating and integrating complementary genetic, linguistic, and archaeological records from East Nusa Tenggara and West Papua, this project will illuminate the historical processes and peoples that have shaped modern Wallacean society. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive re-evaluation of New Guinea's role as a bio-cultural hub in one of the most diverse but understudied regions on the planet.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3105 - Genetics. Lead: A/Prof Raymond Tobler