The origins and development of New Guinea agriculture

Archaeological evidence from the Kuk Early Agricultural Site in New Guinea challenges traditional assumptions about agricultural origins in the South Pacific, supporting claims for agriculture dating back approximately 6000 years. This finding aligns with the presence of domesticated pigs, an introduced species, which are often associated with early agricultural practices across the Pacific. The study proposes an independent development of agriculture in New Guinea, rooted in the domestication of a diverse suite of plants—including staples, vegetables, and fruits—that could sustain populations in varied environments. Given the absence of botanical remains, researchers relied on traditional crop cultivation patterns to reconstruct this agricultural history, offering a compelling narrative for the region's early subsistence strategies.

Golson, J. (2020). The origins and development of New Guinea agriculture. The Emergence of Agriculture, 175–186. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003060765-9