Forgotten Race

“Little Stonehenge” of a Forgotten Race Papuan Anthropologist Reports on Trobriands Formations

A REPORT made by Mr. F, E. Williams (Government Anthropologist) on the stone structures discovered in the Trobriand Group, Papua, has been re ceived at Canberra.

It will be recalled that the presence of these stones of mysterious origin and estimated to be 2,000 years old was first reported by Mr. Arthur J. Vogan, F.R.G.S., who carried out archaeological investiga tions in the Trobriands in 1932. A descrip tion by Mr. Vogan of the strange forma tions was published in this journal in February last.

In his interesting report Mr. Williams stated that some of the structures on Kiriwina Island appeared to him like “a little Stonehenge.” Their original pur pose seemed to have been lost or for gotten, but it was likely that they were ‘‘tomb temples,” or sacred places of burial.

At the site of one of the structures, human bones were found buried. ‘‘As to the origin of the major sites, informants were found to be completely dumb,” said Mr. Williams, ‘‘The more generally accepted opinion of authorities is that the stone building habit was im planted in Melanesia by immigrants who derived their culture from the west. It is assumed that the immigrants with their superior culture occupied the status of a ruling class. If this be so, then in the Trobriand Islands not only have they left some hulking monuments of their for gotten skill, but some of their more direct descendants probably survive as the pre sent class of chiefs.”

Speaking of the group of stones at Iluk waiwaia, on Kiriwina, he observed; “Here, a great number of stones, white or grey, stand boldly in view. They give clear indication of an early formation. In the background is the great stone of Otuiam. part of a smaller formation, but, one com posed of much more massive stone. The whole thing looked exceedingly impres sive. and it is not too much to say that, on first sight, Ilukwaiwaia and Otuiam look like a little Stonehenge.”

He added that the enclosure formed a rough oblong about 60 feet long and 15 feet broad.

Mr. Williams described other forma tions, including one at Kadalalai, on Kitava. The weight of the great stone of Otuiam was estimated to be about 12,000 lb. He considered that the enclosures had been made where the stones were found.

The Anthropologist recommended sys tematic excavation as a means of provid ing better evidence of burials and of throwing some light on the history of the enclosures, and added that the sites should be preserved. The Acting Lieutenant- Governor of Papua (Mr. H. W. Champion) reports that steps will be taken to carry out Mr. Williams’ recommendations.

Mrs. A. H. Bunting, of Samarai, Papua, reached Australia by the Macdhui in the middle of May on a visit to her daughter who lives in Sydney. Mrs. Bunting has resided in Papua for 35 years.

Mf. H. V. C. Randall, of the New Guinea Public Works Department, mar ried Miss Gwendolen Backhouse, sister of Dr.’ Clive T. Backhouse of Rabaul, on May 14.