Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have analyzed ancient DNA from 42 individuals who lived up to 2,600 years ago in Papua New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago, revealing the first ancient genomes from this culturally diverse Pacific region.
The groundbreaking research, led by archaeogeneticist Kathrin Nägele and anthropologist Rebecca Kinaston, discovered that genetically distinct groups coexisted for centuries without intermarrying despite living in close proximity—an unusual pattern for human encounters.
Two communities on Papua New Guinea's south coast, living just kilometers apart between 150-500 years ago, showed such genetic isolation that researchers had to trace back six generations to find a common ancestor, suggesting cultural barriers prevented mixing despite no geographical obstacles.
The study reveals that early Papuan inhabitants and the Lapita seafaring culture, known for intricate pottery and farming practices, remained genetically separate for hundreds of years before finally intermixing around 2,100 years ago in the Bismarck Archipelago.
Director Johannes Krause notes this research highlights how genetics, culture, and environmental challenges—including increased El Niño events between 1,200-500 years ago—shaped the remarkable diversity of Pacific societies and their complex settlement patterns across the world's second-largest island.
