معرفی
Robert Skelly is an Archaeologist and Research Associate at Monash University specializing in the archaeology of cultural practices and social interactions along the south coast of Papua New Guinea. His work focuses on the rainforest and sandy beach settings of the Gulf of Papua, with particular attention to historical trade networks between Indigenous communities across Australia's doorstep.
Dr. Skelly's research centers on Indigenous trade networks in the Pacific region, especially the 'hiri' trade system connecting Motu communities of Port Moresby with Gulf of Papua villages. His groundbreaking work challenges long-held anthropological assumptions by revealing women's crucial role in cultural knowledge exchange through pottery making and tattoo designs, contrary to previous narratives that focused exclusively on men's seafaring activities. His methodology combines archaeological excavation with advanced material analysis techniques including scanning electron microscopy.
Skelly's publications demonstrate how pottery analysis has revolutionized our understanding of pre-colonial connections across the Coral Sea, suggesting cultural exchanges between Papua New Guinea and Australia that predate European contact by over 2,000 years. His interdisciplinary approach integrates archaeological evidence with anthropological insights to reconstruct complex social interactions and maritime technologies of ancient Indigenous communities.
- Australian Research Council DE200100544
Dr. Skelly conducts collaborative research with Indigenous communities in Papua New Guinea and partners with specialists across multiple disciplines including earth sciences. His fieldwork spans Australia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea, focusing on material culture analysis to understand cultural connections that challenge the notion of Indigenous Australia's historical isolation.
