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Marital migration and gene flow on the mainland of New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

G. T. Nurse
Affiliation:
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua, New Guinea

Summary

The apparently closed societies of the New Guinea Highlands were traditionally in possession of quite large quantities of pearl shells traded from the coast. Since these constituted almost the only category of goods not produced as easily in the Highlands as the lowlands, and since they formed an appreciable component of the bride wealth, they suggest directional mating leading to an outward movement of women from the Highlands. Marriage movement in three samples of women confirms this suggestion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1981, Cambridge University Press

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