The first inhabitants of New Guinea arrived at least around 40,000 years ago. These first inhabitants, from whom the Papuan people are probably descended.
In more recent millennia another wave of people arrived on the shores of New Guinea. These were the Austronesian people, who had spread down from Taiwan, through the south-east Asian archipelago, colonising many of the islands on the way.
The first European contact with New Guinea was by Portuguese and/or Spanish sailors in the 16th century. As European colinzation spread to new guinea both the Dutch and the British tried to suppress warfare and head-hunting once common between the villages of the populace. In 1905 the British government renamed their territory to Papua and in 1906 transferred total responsibility for it to Australia. The Australian territories became collectively known as The Territories of Papua and New Guinea (until February 1942).
Before about 1930, most European maps showed the highlands as uninhabited forests. When first flown over by aircraft, numerous settlements with agricultural terraces and stockades were observed. The most startling discovery took place on August 4, 1938, when Richard Archbold discovered the Grand Valley of the Balim River which had 50,000 yet-undiscovered Stone Age farmers living in orderly villages. The people, known as the Dani, were the last society of its size to make first contact with the western world.
Below is a video that shows PNG accross many regions.
New Guinea territories were invaded in 1942 by the Japanese. The Australian territories were put under military administration and were known simply as New Guinea. The highlands, northern and eastern parts of the island became key battlefields in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. Papuans often gave vital assistance to the Allies, fighting alongside Australian troops, and carrying equipment and injured men across New Guinea.
The culture of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is many-sided and complex. It is estimated that more than 1000 different cultural groups exist in PNG, and most groups have their own language. Because of this diversity, in which they take pride, many different styles of cultural expression have emerged; each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, architecture and much more.
People typically live in villages or dispersed hamlets which rely on the subsistence farming of sweet potatoes and taro. The principal livestock in traditional PNG is the oceanic pig (Sus papuiensis). To balance the diet, people of PNG hunt, collect wild plants, or fish depending on the local environment and mode of subsistence. Those who become skilled at farming, hunting, or fishing and are generous earn a great deal of respect in Papua New Guinea. On the Sepik River, there is a world-renowned tradition of wood carving. These carvers create forms of plants or animals, because they believe these are their ancestor beings and because they feel they are beautiful. They also create traditional skull portraits. There is a rich and diverse tradition of visual art. In particular, Papua New Guinea is world-famous for carved wooden sculpture: masks, canoes, story-boards. Many of the best collections of these are held in overseas museums.
A Short video of New Guinea art
Even though sea shells are no longer
the
currency
of Papua New Guinea - sea shells were abolished as currency in 1933 -
this heritage is still present in local customs. In certain parts of
the country
a groom
must bring a bride price to the wedding ceremony. In some
cases this is paid in golden-edged clam shells. In other areas, a dowry is
payable rather than bride price. These payments may take the form of
shell money, food, pigs, cash, or other goods.In some parts of the New Guinea highlands, people engage in colorful local rituals that are called "sing-sings". They paint themselves and dress up with feathers, pearls and animal skins to represent birds, trees or mountain spirits. Sometimes an important event, such as a legendary battle, would be enacted at such a musical festival.
Below is a short video of a sing-sing festival