Bismarck Archipelago

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Bismarck Archipelago

A group of volcanic islands and islets of Papua New Guinea in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Long inhabited by Papuan and Austronesian peoples, the islands were annexed by Germany (1884) and passed to Australia (1914) before being included in Papua New Guinea (1975).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Bismarck Archipelago

n
(Placename) a group of over 200 islands in the SW Pacific, northeast of New Guinea: part of Papua New Guinea. Main islands: New Britain, New Ireland, Lavongai, and the Admiralty Islands. Chief town: Rabaul, on New Britain. Pop: 566 610 (2000). Area: 49 658 sq km (19 173 sq miles)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Bis′marck Archipel′ago


n.
a group of islands in Papua New Guinea, in the SW Pacific Ocean, including the Admiralty Islands, New Britain, New Ireland, and adjacent islands. ab. 23,000 sq. mi. (59,570 sq. km).
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.Bismarck Archipelago - a group of islands in the southwestern Pacific to the northeast of New GuineaBismarck Archipelago - a group of islands in the southwestern Pacific to the northeast of New Guinea; part of Papua New Guinea
Melanesia - the islands in the southwestern part of Oceania
Admiralty Islands - a group of islands in the Bismarck Archipelago
New Britain - the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago; part of Papua New Guinea
Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea - a parliamentary democracy on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; in 1975 it became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations
New Ireland - an island in the Bismarck Archipelago; part of Papua New Guinea
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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In addition to rediscovering Varanus douarrha, the researchers also note in their study their genetic analysis shows another monitor lizard, Varanus indicus, is "a relatively recent immigrant to the Bismarck Islands," the archipelago to the northeast of New Guinea where (https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Ireland-island-Papua-New-Guinea) New Ireland  is located.
Long-Lost Lizard Rediscovered
Archaeologist Patrick Kirch of the University of California, Berkeley says "more work is needed to determine whether potsherds at Wanelek were manufactured on the coast or the Bismarck islands and traded inland, or whether inland dwellers adopted the art of making pottery."
Pottery clarifies route to Polynesia: New Guinea shards show ties between islanders, seafarers

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