Two new doctoral theses started in January 2026 in the framework of a new scientific project, named “PAPALIM: Biological and societal impacts of the food transition in Papua New Guinea”, and in collaboration with the Papuan Past Project (PPP) team.


Archaeology and Genetics in Papua New Guinea
Two new doctoral theses started in January 2026 in the framework of a new scientific project, named “PAPALIM: Biological and societal impacts of the food transition in Papua New Guinea”, and in collaboration with the Papuan Past Project (PPP) team.


The members of the Papuan Past Project took part to the 10th World Archaeological Congress, 22-28 June 2025, in Darwin, Australia. Three members of the project were present, including Roxanne Tsang, Avis Babalu and Sébastien Plutniak, who presented a paper (oral presentation) and two posters, respectively.
Continue reading “The members of the Papuan Past Project at the WAC 2025 Congress”Members of the Papuan Past Project published a study in Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, Volume 13, Issue 1, 2025. The researchers found that betel nut chewing significantly alters the oral microbiome diversity, increasing the prevalence of bacteria associated with periodontal diseases. This effect is potentially region-specific.


In 2025, a new scientific project, named NUTRIOCEO, will be launched by the Papuan Past Project (PPP) team. The NUTRIOCEO project is funded by the ANR funding body (ANR-24-CE21-0317) for the next three years and is led by Dr Nicolas Brucato. The project will focus on the interaction between Papua New Guinean human genomes, microbiomes and dietary changes in both historical and modern times. It will involve PPP team members (Nicolas Brucato, François-Xavier Ricaut, Christopher Kinipi and new partners from PNG (Alfred Kik) and from the USA (Laura Weyrich). A kick-off meeting will be held between all partners in Spring 2025 to initiate the project and to plan future fieldworks in different parts of PNG. The NUTRIOCEO project is the continuation of all the research already conducted by the PPP which aims to better understand the demographic and adaptive history of Papua New Guineans through archaeological, anthropological and biological approaches.
Continue reading “New scientific project in the framework of the Papuan Past Project”