Series 695 - Christensen ethnographic films of Papua New Guinea

Identity area

Reference code

AU ANUA 695

Title

Christensen ethnographic films of Papua New Guinea

Date(s)

  • 1972 - 1974 (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

35 16mm films

Context area

Name of creator

(- 1974)

Biographical history

Ole Christensen completed his BA in 1970 and his MA in 1972, at the Department of Archaeology at the University of Calgary. After field work in South America, he came to the ANU as a PhD scholar in 1972, and worked for the Department of Prehistory's project at Kuk in the upper Wahgi valley, led by Dr Jack Golson. Christensen was involved in the study of the agricultural history of the area, especially scrutinizing resource utilization near the site of the Department's excavations at Kuk. Ole Christensen died, aged 29, in a car accident on 16 December 1974.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These films were recorded by Christensen in the area of the Wahgi Valley of Papua New Guinea, near the Department of PreHistory's excavations at Kuk, led by Dr Jack Golson. These films depict traditional methods of tool making, cooking, farming, and hunting, as well as funerary rites and other rituals.

Films were numbered and arranged according to information recorded on film boxes and cans. Since being digitised and being able to be viewed, the original order is no longer helpful, and films should be grouped as follows:

Axe making:
ANUA 695-2 (part 1)
ANUA 695-9 (part 2)
ANUA 695-18 (part 3)
ANUA 695-20 (part 4)
ANUA 695-11 (part 5)
ANUA 695-1 (part 6)

Axe use:
ANUA 695-22 (part 1)
ANUA 695-26 (part 2)
ANUA 695-19 (part 3)
ANUA 695-3 (part 4)

Bark cloth:
ANUA 695-4 (part 1)
ANUA 695-24 (part 2)
ANUA 695-23 (part 3)

Stone core:
ANUA 695-6 (part 1)
ANUA 695-28 (part 2)

Pandanus:
ANUA 695-14 (part 1)
ANUA 695-10 (part 2)

Funeral:
ANUA 695-12 (part 1)
ANUA 695-27 (part 2)

John Doa's Funeral (pig killing)
ANUA 695-17 (part 1)
ANUA 695-15 (part 2)

Quarrying:
ANUA 695-21 (part 1)
ANUA 695-29 (part 2)

Axe Socket:
ANUA 695-30 (part 1)
ANUA 695-25 (part 2)

Film items ANUA 695-5 and 13 are concerned with stone flakes, but are not specified as being a part of a series. Film items ANUA 695-7, 16, and 35 involve the use of stone axes, but are not specified as being a part of a series. Item ANUA 695-8 includes film of sewing a pandanus mat, trimming an axeblank, and collecting flaking stone.

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System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Researchers must sign an access agreement.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

    Script of material

      Language and script notes

      Physical characteristics and technical requirements

      Use of originals may be restricted due to deteriorating format. Films have been digitised and are available online here: https://hdl.handle.net/1885/219717

      Finding aids

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      All films have been digitised and are available for download here: https://hdl.handle.net/1885/219717.

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      Description control area

      Description identifier

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      Rules and/or conventions used

      Dates of creation revision deletion

      Created by C. Ziegler on 18 January 2021. Updated 26.6.2024.

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          Accession area