Ancient trade in the East Sepik islands

The National ^ | December 27, 2006 | unattributed

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Oral history suggestions that Koil Islanders used to trade their galip nuts in return for clay pots. In recent times, about 20kg of galip would fetch one clay pot. Exchange for clay pots is not the only interaction the Koil people had with the Wewak coast... Although Koil Islanders had a similar religion and also traded with the mainland their language is remarkably different. The Koil people speak an Austronesian language most similar to their island neighbours on Vokeo and Viai. The most recent origin of these languages can be traced back through the islands to the east, through Manam, Karkar and Siassi. This evidence suggests that while Koil people had close connections with the Wewak coast, they also remarkably have ancestral connections to the east as well... obsidian is only found at a few places in the Papua New Guinea region, namely; West New Britain, Fergusson Island and Manus. While research is still underway, it is most likely that the obsidian found on Koil came from Manus! While people are known to have first colonised Manus over 20,000 years ago the Koil evidence suggests purposive trading voyages...

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