Papuan peoples
Encyclopedia
Papuan is a cover term for the various indigenous peoples of New Guinea
and neighboring islands, speakers of so-called Papuan languages
. They are often distinguished linguistically from Austronesians, speakers of a language family introduced into New Guinea about three thousand years ago, but this is not always an ethnic distinction, as New Guinea Austronesians are often seen as Papuan in culture.
According to one study, Papuan people, together with Melanesians
, are the only known modern humans whose prehistoric ancestors interbred with the Denisova hominin
, with which they share 4%–6% of their genome.
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and neighboring islands, speakers of so-called Papuan languages
Papuan languages
The Papuan languages are those languages of the western Pacific which are neither Austronesian nor Australian. The term does not presuppose a genetic relationship. The concept of Papuan peoples as distinct from Melanesians was first suggested and named by Sidney Herbert Ray in 1892.-The...
. They are often distinguished linguistically from Austronesians, speakers of a language family introduced into New Guinea about three thousand years ago, but this is not always an ethnic distinction, as New Guinea Austronesians are often seen as Papuan in culture.
Genetics
In a 2005 study of ASPM gene variants, Mekel-Bobrov et al. found that the Papuan people have among the highest rate of the newly-evolved ASPM haplogroup D, at 59.4% occurrence of the approximately 6,000-year-old allele. While it is not yet known exactly what selective advantage is provided by this gene variant, the haplogroup D allele is thought to be positively selected in populations and to confer some substantial advantage that has caused its frequency to rapidly increase.According to one study, Papuan people, together with Melanesians
Melanesians
Melanesians are an ethnic group in Melanesia. The original inhabitants of the group of islands now named Melanesia were likely the ancestors of the present-day Papuan-speaking people...
, are the only known modern humans whose prehistoric ancestors interbred with the Denisova hominin
Denisova hominin
Denisova hominins , or Denisovans, are Paleolithic-Era members of the genus Homo that may belong to a previously unknown species. In , scientists announced the discovery of a finger bone fragment of a juvenile female that lived about 41,000 years ago, found in Denisova Cave in Altai Krai, Russia, a...
, with which they share 4%–6% of their genome.
Papuan ethnic groups
- Angu
- Amung
- AsmatAsmat peopleThe Asmat are an ethnic group of New Guinea, residing in the Papua province of Indonesia. Possessing one of the most well-known and vibrant woodcarving traditions in the Pacific, their art is sought by collectors worldwide...
- Baining
- Baruya
- Bauzi
- Bilibil
- Chambri
- DaniDani PeopleThe Dani people, also spelled Ndani, and sometimes conflated with the Lani group to the west, are a people from the central highlands of western New Guinea ....
- Ekari
- Etoro
- Fayu
- Fore
- Gadsup
- Gogodala
- Haroli
- HuliHuli peopleThe Huli are an indigenous people that live in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Latest estimates put their numbers at around 150,000, while they have been living in the area where they now reside for about 1000 years...
- KombaiKombai peopleThe Kombai are a Papuan people of Melanesia living in the Indonesian province of Papua in Western New Guinea.-Way of Life:The Kombai have become prominent to the outside world primarily because of their traditional tree house dwellings, which often reach heights of over 20 meters...
- Korowai
- Kwoma
- Korowai
- Koteka
- Lani
- Maisin
- Marind
- Mek
- MianMian peopleThe Mian people are a people living in the Telefomin district of the Sandaun province in Papua New Guinea. The number of Mian is 3,500, based on the number of speakers of their language, Mian....
- Moni
- Motuan
- Mundugumor
- OgeaOgea peopleThe Ogea are a Papuan people from Madang Province of Papua New Guinea speaking the Ogea language. They live in the four villages of Garima, Dogia, Balama, and Erima, bounded by the Gogol and Yawor rivers, and Astrolabe Bay...
- Orokaiva
- Sambia
- Sawi
- Swagap
- Tairora
- TelefolTelefol people-History:Telefol history starts with the "Old Woman" traveling through the land that is now the Eliptaman valley. She, as told through their creation stories, founded the Telefolip, the most sacred of Yolam Houses or Haus Tambaran in the Star Mountains Region about 300 years ago...
- Tolai
- TsembagaTsembaga MaringTsembaga Maring are a group of horticulturists who live in the highlands of New Guinea. They have been extensively studied by ethnographers, the foremost of which is Roy Rappaport.-Ethnographies:...
- UrapminUrapmin people- Beliefs and religion :The Urapmin see themselves as players in a ritual system encompassing all of the Min peoples. The Telefol were acknowledged by the Min as being at the highest level of sacred knowledge, and groups such as the Baktaman were at the lowest level. In this ranking the Urapmin...
- WiruWiru peopleThe Wiru are a people of the Southern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. They speak the Wiru language. Among their rituals is the production of timbuwarra out of rattan.-Reference:*"" in Man and Culture in Oceania, Vol. 15...
- Wopkaimin
- Yali
- Zia