How long have dogs been in Melanesia? New evidence from Caution Bay, south coast of Papua New Guinea. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manne, Tiina; David, Bruno; Petchey, Fiona; Leavesley, Matthew; Roberts, Georgia; Szabó, Katherine; Urwin, Chris; McNiven, Ian J.; Richards, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 30(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Archaeology of southwestern Pacific -- Caution Bay -- Lapita -- New Guinea -- Pacific dogs -- South coast of Papua New Guinea; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102255
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: We report on the oldest known dog skeletal remains from the island of New Guinea, dated to between 2573 and 2702 cal BP from Moiapu 1, Caution Bay. The Moiapu 1 dog mandible is securely associated with Late Lapita deposits. Dog remains are repeatedly found in Caution Bay sites from then on. Only one known archaeological site in Oceania has earlier dog remains, Kamgot in New Ireland, associated with Early Lapita deposits dated to c. 3000–3300 cal BP. If the Kamgot dog remains derived from live dogs in New Ireland, then the hiatus to the Moaipu 1 dates signal multiple introductions 300–600 years apart into Melanesia. Abstract: Currently the earliest evidence for dog dispersal into the Greater Australian region and surrounds is found in Australia (Madura Cave 3210–3361 cal BP), New Ireland (Kamgot, c. 3000–3300 cal BP) and Timor-Leste (Matja Kuru 2, 2886–3068 cal BP). Previously, the earliest published dog remains for the large continental island of New Guinea was from Edubu 1 (2314–2700 cal BP) in Caution Bay, south coast of mainland PNG. Here we report on a dog mandible from Moiapu 1, also in Caution Bay. Although the mandible could not be directly dated, good chronostratigraphic resolution indicates that it confidently dates to between 2573 and 2702 cal BP (95% probability). It was found deeply buried in association with Late Lapita cultural materials, and is currently the earliest known dog remain from New Guinea. Biometric measurements on a small sample of archaeological and modern dog remains from the broader region support previously published models (based on genetic results) of multiple dog dispersals into the Pacific region.