Hanua

Hanua is a village located in the north of the island of New Britain, which is part of the country of Papua New Guinea. The village is situated in the Rai Coast District of the West New Britain Province.

The village of Hanua is notable for the discovery of the earliest known evidence of stone tool use in the Pacific. In 1968, archaeologists Ian Bell and Grahame Elmslie uncovered stone tools that dated back over 40,000 years, providing significant insights into human migration and settlement patterns in the Pacific.

The discovery at Hanua has been recognized as a major archaeological find, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of early Pacific Islanders. The tools discovered at the site include crude stone knives, scrapers, and other instruments that suggest a level of technological sophistication.

The Hanua site has also been significant in sheddin light on the movement of early humans through the Pacific. The stone tools found at the site show a similarity to those found in Australia and Southeast Asia, suggesting a possible migration route for early humans from the Asian continent.

Further excavation and study of the Hanua site continue to provide valuable insights into the prehistory of the Pacific and the lives of early humans who settled in the region.