Connections Across the Coral Sea

Overview

Imagine a place unbounded by western borders, where thoughts, ideas and objects are shared among rich, seafaring cultures — a place of substantial exchange that has existed since time immemorial.

For thousands of years, the Coral Sea has been a place of significant cultural interaction between people from southern New Guinea, north Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands. While trade and relationships continue across this region today, archaeologists working in partnership with First Nations communities have highlighted ancient two-way cultural movement and connection over an extraordinarily large area.

Connections Across the Coral Sea draws together the threads of archaeological and anthropological research, the dynamism of artefacts and objects, and the knowledge and stories of First Nations people to tell the rich history of this fascinating and incredibly beautiful part of the world.

Published by Queensland Museum in partnership with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH) for the exhibition Connections Across the Coral Sea.

Publication details

ISBN: 978 0 6488005 4 5
Paperback, 240 x 200 mm (portrait), full colour, 40pp
Date of publication: December 2021
Contributing authors: Sean Ulm, Ian McNiven, Geraldine Mate, Sophie Price, Maddy McAllister, Tom Chandler, Michael Neylan, Katherine Woo