Origins of Agriculture at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of New Guinea

TLDR

Multidisciplinary studies at Kuk Swamp in Papua New Guinea demonstrate that agriculture emerged independently there by at least 6950–6440 cal yr B.P. Plant exploitation and cultivation at Kuk Swamp began on the wetland margin around 10,220–9,910 cal yr B.P., progressed to mounding cultivation by 6,950–6,440 cal yr B.P., and to ditched cultivation by 4,350–3,980 cal yr B.P.; concurrently, lower montane rainforest clearance and grassland modification started in the early Holocene, with taro and bananas intensively cultivated by at least 6,950–6,440 cal yr B.P.

Abstract

Multidisciplinary investigations at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea show that agriculture arose independently in New Guinea by at least 6950 to 6440 calibrated years before the present (cal yr B.P.). Plant exploitation and some cultivation occurred on the wetland margin at 10,220 to 9910 cal yr B.P. (phase 1), mounding cultivation began by 6950 to 6440 cal yr B.P. (phase 2), and ditched cultivation began by 4350 to 3980 cal yr B.P. (phase 3). Clearance of lower montane rainforests began in the early Holocene, with modification to grassland at 6950 to 6440 cal yr B.P. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) was utilized in the early Holocene, and bananas (Musa spp.) were intensively cultivated by at least 6950 to 6440 cal yr B.P.