What Happened in Torres Strait 400 Years Ago? Ritual Transformations in an Island Seascape

The small islands of Western Torres Strait, between the large continental islands of Australia in the south and New Guinea in the north, witnessed major cultural transformations about 400 years ago. Innovations included the commencement of dugong bone mound-building and Syrinx aruanus shell arrangements. This paper explores the archaeological evidence for these new site types, linking the archaeology to late nineteenth century ethnography on Torres Strait ritual practices. It concludes by presenting four alternative models to explain the origins of these c. 400-year-old ritual innovations.