
The members of the Papuan Past Project took part to the Australian Archaeological Association Annual Conference 2024 (AAA), 3-6 December 2024, Cairns, Australia. Two members of the project were present, Avis Babalu and Matthew Leavesley. Avis Babalu presented a paper (oral presentation) entitled “A Collaborative Model for Archaeological Research in the Middle Purari, Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea” (co-authored with Matthew Leavesley at the session Highlighting Collaborative Research and Exploring Narratives of the Past in New Guinea.
Read more: The members of the Papuan Past Project at the AAA 2024 ConferenceA Collaborative Model for Archaeological Research in the Middle Purari, Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea.
Archaeological investigations along the Purari River corridor in the Gulf of Papua have been limited, apart from industry-related studies relating to various hydro, gas and petroleum projects that operate in the wider area. Archaeologists, together with international partners namely the Papuan Past Project, the University of Papua New Guinea, in collaboration with TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited, have been conducting archaeological investigations in the Wabo area of the middle Purari beginning in 2023. This has required intensive collaboration between the various stakeholders, including the local landowners who are key to the success of the research project.
This paper focuses on clearly identifying the many collaborative partners, their roles, responsibilities, and goals within the overall state legislative frameworks and customary and traditional expectations. More broadly, University of Papua New Guinea archaeologists identify global questions and international partners identify techniques and analysis methodologies. The local landowners nominate and/or facilitate access to local sites for data collection, and TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited provide logistics, funding, and security. Hence, for the research project to succeed, each collaborator must recognise the mutual benefit of working together in this space.

OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Papuan Past Project Editors (December 8, 2024). The members of the Papuan Past Project at the AAA 2024 Conference. Papuan Past Project. Retrieved April 21, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/12v8q