Ben Cropp's wild Australia. Season 1. Episode 24, The Louisiade Archipelago / Narrated by Ben Cropp.

Format:

Video

Contributor:

Cropp, Ben, director, narrator.

Heritage Broadcasting Service, issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Coral reefs and islands--Papua New Guinea--Louisiade Archipelago.

Coral reefs and islands.

Louisiade Archipelago (Papua New Guinea)--Social life and customs.

Louisiade Archipelago (Papua New Guinea).

Genre:

Documentary films.

Feature films.

Nonfiction films.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 video file (52 minutes)) : sound, color

Place of Publication:

[Eugene, Oregon] : Heritage Broadcasting Service, [2008]

System Details:

digital

Summary:

The Battle of the Coral Sea turned the tide of WWII naval warfare and confronted Indigenous people in these islands just west of New Guinea with unprecedented outside influences. In western isles of the archipelago, Ben Cropp explores European impacts. Venturing farther east, to the remotest islands of the archipelago, he finds communities less influenced, still mainly practicing their ancient ways. The culture once included head-hunting, and the film shows a hidden hoard of skulls. The many communities shown range from subsistence farming and gathering and gift-based exchange in the eastern islands to a money economy in the western area. At Panawina island, Ben and crew find villagers conducting a wake, in ceremonial dress. As if time-traveling, Ben films dances and traditional swapping of shell necklaces and ceremonial axes.

Notes:

Description based on online resource; title from title screen (viewed on May 6, 2025).

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.