Clarifying ambiguity: a reassessment of the multi-disciplinary evidence for a 10,000 year-old palaeosurface at Kuk Swamp, highlands of Papua New Guinea

A 10,000-year-old palaeosurface at Kuk Swamp in the highlands of Papua New Guinea provides compelling evidence for one of the earliest forms of shifting cultivation. This study re-evaluates multi-disciplinary data—including direct archaeological findings and palaeo-pedological indicators—to clarify whether this ancient land use represents shifting cultivation or alternative plant exploitation practices. By integrating palaeoecological and geomorphological evidence, researchers reconstruct landscape transformation linked to human activity, offering new insights into the origins of agricultural adaptation in tropical environments.

Denham, T. (2026). Clarifying ambiguity: a reassessment of the multi-disciplinary evidence for a 10,000 year-old palaeosurface at Kuk Swamp, highlands of Papua New Guinea. Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fearc.2026.1818722