Investigating the nature of mobility patterns and interaction: Ceramic production at the Late Lapita site of Amalut, Papua New Guinea

Abstract

This paper investigates the nature of mobility and interaction through a study of ceramic production at the Late Lapita site of Amalut, southwest New Britain, Papua New Guinea. This study undertook a physico-chemical analysis of pottery from Amalut and compared results with established ceramic production models for this region. A new model for ceramic production strategies in Late Lapita is presented highlighting that Late Lapita at Amalut was transitional, being neither completely mobile nor completely sedentary. Our new model argues that the Late Lapita period varied between different regions due to increased regionalisation by this period.