Papua New Guinea 2008
Expedition Cruz-Mayor:
Recording of Rock Art in the Upper Karawari Region of Papua New Guinea
This expedition focused on documenting and analyzing the rare pictographs of caves deep in the interior of Western Papua New Guinea
Lost in Time
Papua New Guinea is home to a rich diversity in indigenous groups and languages. While we know the material record stretches back 50,000 years there is little data that can help us understand a full chronology. The team launched this endeavor with the large amount of background research done by project partner and co-lead Dr. Nancy Sullivan. For 18 years Dr. Sullivan established a foundation of ethnographic fieldwork as well as a survey of over 150 cave sites in the region. Tragically Dr. Sullivan died in a car crash in 2015, but we continue our work and mission in her memory. This expedition was supported by Antonio Cruz Mayor, the International President of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, The John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship and National Geographic.
Past and Present
For the indigenous groups in the area caves are believed to be the source of ancestors, imbued with intense symbolism and supernatural power. With the help of over 20 local guides and field assistants the team was able to incorporate both formal and informal ethnographic insights and traditional knowledge in understanding these sites.
First Contact
During Edmundo’s survey of the caves in the Awim region he chanced upon the Meakambut, a previously uncontacted culture. Later Dr. Sullivan returned with a team from National Geographic (Edmundo is referenced as her “advance team” in the article) which produced this magazine piece published in 2012.
This documentary film chronicles the 2008 PIRI expedition to Papua New Guinea, their survey of the cave paintings and remarkable first contact with the Meakambut people. Victoria Films production with the generous support through Expedición Cruz Mayor. Cinematographer/Director: Gonzalo Rojas Editor/Post Production: Crístobal Sahr Producers: Edmundo Edwards and Gonzalo Rojas
From left to right, kneeling; Gonzalo Rojas, Nancy Sullivan (ECF) Nancy Sullivan Jr. Standing; Antonio Cruz Mayor, Yoshua Meraveka, Levai Roland, Mara Riroroko. Sebastian Riroroko, Jonah Wenda, Roberto Forster, Edmundo Edwards and Jaime Riroroko
Edmundo Edwards- Co Expedition Lead, Archaeologist
Dr. Nancy Sullivan, Co-Expedition Leader, Anthropologist
Dr. Bassam Ghaleb, PhD from McGill University - Pictograph and AMS Dating Specialist
Antonio Cruz Mayor Prades, International President of the Museo del Prado in Madrid
Paul Aharon, PhD Professor Emeritus University of Canberra