A historiography of research on West New Guinea’s human past

Gaffney, D; Tolla, M

Book section : Chapter

A historiography of research on West New Guinea’s human past

Abstract:: This chapter is a historiography of research on West New Guinea’s peoples and their social, biological, and material histories. It provides a synthesis of previous research undertaken on West New Guinea’s human past, divided by chronological period, from Portuguese and Spanish voyages of discovery (1511–1606), Dutch economic expansion (1606–1795), European voyages of discovery and the emergence of the natural sciences (1767–1884), early ethnographic expeditions (1884–1945), the development of Netherlands New Guinea anthropology (1945–1963), and Indonesian-era archaeology and anthropology (1963–2022). Finally, the chapter reflects on the present state of cultural heritage legislation and practice in the region, which highlights how scholarship could productively engage Papuan communities in the future.

Bab ini menyajikan riwayat sejarah penelitian tentang kehidupan masyarakat yang berada di wilayah Papua bagian barat: sejarah sosial, biologi, dan budaya materi. Bab ini memaparkan sintesa dari penelitian sebelumnya yang dilakukan pada masa lalu di wilayah tersebut. Hal ini disajikan secara kronologis yang dimulai dengan awal kedatangan para pelancong berkebangsaan Portugis dan Spanyol (1511–1606), ekspansi ekonomi Belanda (1606–1795), pelayaran pertama yang dilakukan oleh bangsa Eropa dan kemunculan ilmu pengetahuan alam (1767–1884), eskpedisi awal etnografi (18841945), perkembangan antropologi Nugini-Belanda (1945–1963), dan perkembangan Ilmu arkeologi dan antropologi pada masa pemerintahan Indonesia (1963–2022). Pada bagian terakhir, tulisan ini mengulas peraturan dan praktek warisan budaya di wilayah tersebut serta menyoroti tentang pentingya pendidikan serta hal-hal yang mendukung proses tersebut sehingga menjadi prioritas masyarakat asli Papua dimasa yang akan datang.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Gaffney, D., & Tolla, M. (2025). A historiography of research on West New Guinea’s human past. In D. Gaffney & M. Tolla (Eds.), West New Guinea: Social, Biological, and Material Histories (1st ed., pp. 27–60). ANU Press.

MLA Style

Gaffney, D., and M. Tolla. “A Historiography of Research on West New Guinea’s Human Past.” West New Guinea: Social, Biological, and Material Histories, edited by D Gaffney and M Tolla, 1st ed., ANU Press, 2025, pp. 27–60.

Chicago Style

Gaffney, D, and M Tolla. 2025. “A Historiography of Research on West New Guinea’s Human Past.” In West New Guinea: Social, Biological, and Material Histories, edited by D Gaffney and M Tolla, 1st ed., 27–60. Terra Australis. ANU Press.
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