Islands Between Two Continents: Tracing African and Asian trade and migration in the Comoros Archipelago, East Africa
Abstract
The Comoros Origins Project is exploring the origins and lifeways of the earliest settlers of the Comoros archipelago, a chain of small stepping-stone islands that link mainland East Africa with Madagascar. Settled by humans around the 8th century CE, the Comoros have long been part of Indian Ocean trading systems. Recent data collected by our team also suggests they played a central role in the still mysterious colonisation of Madagascar by Austronesian-speaking people from Southeast Asia. Through new excavations at early settlement and cemetery sites across the archipelago, this project is using cutting-edge archaeological science methods to better understand who the first Comorians were, and to examine their biological and cultural links to Asia and Africa. Here we report our initial results, and discuss plans for future work on the project.
About the presenter
Dr Alison Crowther, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.
