Peter S. Bellwood

Peter Bellwood, famous Australian archaeologist and expert on the ancient history of the Pacific, examines the archeology, history and material culture of the peoples of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Particular attention is given in the book of the history of human settlement and development of the islands of Oceania. The monograph is interdisciplinary in nature. In his study, the author draws on the latest data of archeology, anthropology, ethnography, linguistics. References and photos to Indonesia throughout.… (mehr)

This is a very rich and highly specialized book that aims to provide insight into the first migratory movements in human history, starting from the earliest human species up to and including the first agricultural peoples. Bellwood uses three methodological instruments to gain insight into these migration patterns: classical archeology, linguistic studies and genetic research. His chapters and paragraphs on the latter two in particular are quite specialized, which at times makes them difficult to read. This book certainly has the merit of being very thoughtfully written, giving timely nuances, as well as having a globalist view of history: the entire planet is involved in Bellwood's story. Unfortunately, due to the rapid developments in genetic research, it has already become obsolete on a few points. See my review in my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2369521591… (mehr)