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How did longhouses in the Gulf of Papua vary between western and eastern communities?
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Oceanic art and architecture
An Aboriginal Australian decorating a tightly woven dilly bag with white, yellow, and ochre (red) paints, Northern Territory, Australia, 1948.
In the Gulf of Papua, the function of the longhouse varied significantly between the western and eastern communities.1
- Western Communities: In the swamplands of the west, longhouses served as communal dwellings for the entire group.1
- Eastern Communities: In the eastern coastal areas, longhouses were reserved exclusively for men.1
While these structures differed in their residential use, they remained a central architectural feature across the region, reflecting the diverse social structures and cultural practices of the groups inhabiting the gulf's river deltas.1