Just returned from five weeks of fieldwork in Papua New Guinea near Aitape. Geological sampling to track the mid-Holocene shore, survey, and cave excavations. The hottest place I’ve ever been…

Excavations suggest deposits are likely only a few thousand years old (no Lapita pottery). If I was a betting man, I’d say there were very few people around these parts before then. But then again, ours was the third or fourth field project in about 30 years…