“our goal is to work more closely together on care, interpretation and the celebration of world heritage collections through shared projects promoting co-curating, access to collections, and other activities central to reinventing museums in the 21st century as vigorous contributors to the global understanding of heritage”. – Grace Vele, Anthropology
NMAG supports a wide range of research activities across its different branches of science. NMAG can facilitate introductions, accompany scientific or academic teams to places of interest, assist with cultural heritage impact assessments and surveys, archaeological excavations, grant access to the NMAG collection storerooms, and provide basic study/office facilities for researchers (on arrangement).
NMAG also takes part in World War II retrieval fieldwork for the Australian, USA, and Japanese governments.
NMAG can provide letters of support for required entry visas, and ensure you have the correct permits to undertake any research, including information on filming.
Research that NMAG has assisted with over the last 24 months includes:
Institution | Area of Research/Study | Site |
University of East Anglia – PhD student | Body adornments collected 1884-1906 | Central & Oro provinces |
Conservation Environment Protection Authority (CEPA) & Australia National University | Kuk – World Heritage Site listing & management plan | Western Highlands Province |
Kokoda Track Authority | Etoa Battlefield excavations & film production | Kokoda Track |
Australian Museum (Sydney) and Queensland Museum (Brisbane) | Sir William MacGregor’s Collections | Southern Region of Papua New Guinea |
Australian Museum | Bilas (Head-dresses) Exhibition | Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea |
APEC Haus design | Selection designs representing 22 provinces of PNG | |
University of Otago, New Zealand | Archaeology excavation & field studies | Boera, Papa & LeaLea villages, Central Province |
University of Otago, New Zealand | Archaeology excavation | Mt Bosavi, Central Province |
Professor Bryce | Cultural Heritage survey | Southern Highlands Province |
Research Centre for Pan-Pacific Civilizations Ritsumeikan University | Tapa (Bark clothing) | Oro Province |
University of Melbourne Australia | Intricate designs on Clay Pots | Central Province |
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia | Body ornaments and adornments | Papua New Guinea in general |
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia | The art of Abelam Culture | East Sepik Province |
Oxford University, England | Contemporary Artistic and Material production | Kiriwina – Trobriand Island, Milne Bay Province |
Australian Museum | Intricate designs on domestic objects | Southern Region of Papua New Guinea |
Queensland University | Hohao boards of Gulf | Gulf Province |
University of Cambridge | Sulka traditions | East New Britain Province |
In return NMAG requests each researcher to offer their time to present a small lecture on their chosen field as part of NMAGs ongoing lecture experiences for friends of the museum and its programs. These lectures can be public or internal, as requested.
If you are interested in conducting research in Papua New Guinea please contact the following officers:
Natural History – Jim Aniamato
janiamato@museumpng.gov.pg
Anthropology – Grace Vele
gvele@museumpng.gov.pg
Archaeology – Kenneth Miamba
kmiamba@museumpng.gov.pg
World War II/Modern History – Andrew Moutu andrew.moutu@museumpng.gov.pg