Publications
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.
Processing of Pueraria montana var. lobata (kudzu bean) and Colocasia esculenta (Taro ) during the early holocene at kuk swamp in the papua new guinea highlands
A groundbreaking analysis of stone artefacts from Kuk Swamp, Papua New Guinea, reveals the earliest use of kudzu bean (Pueraria montana var. lobata) and taro (Colocasia esculenta) in the highlands during the Early Holocene (c. 10,000 years ago). The study employed robust statistical methods, categorical attributes, and expert input to identify these plants from starch grains on a flaked stone tool (K/76/S29B), addressing long-standing challenges in attributing unknown residues to specific plant taxa. Notably, the research found that taro and Dioscorea esculenta share indistinguishable starch grain morphologies, necessitating additional distinguishing features such as cultural use, growing requirements, and sedimentary context for accurate identification. This work underscores the significance of integrating multiple lines of evidence in reconstructing ancient plant exploitation, offering new insights into the dietary practices of early highland communities.
Late Quaternary history of the Gumants catchment, Papua New Guinea
A massive debris avalanche, estimated to be over 15 km³ and occurring around 400 ± 100 thousand years ago (ka), reshaped the Gumants catchment in Papua New Guinea's central highlands. This geological event altered the flow of the Upper Gumants River, which once connected directly to the Wahgi River via the Guga subcatchment—home to Kuk Swamp, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its 10,000-year history of agriculture. The study reveals that volcanic deposits, including lahars and airfall tephras (last active ~200 ka), dominate the landscape, with swamp sediments in the Kugimi Basin reaching depths of at least 30 meters—beyond radiocarbon dating limits. Contrary to past speculation, evidence confirms the Gumants River has always flowed eastward, likely joined by the Wahgi River, challenging previous assumptions about their drainage history.
A Feast of Diversity
Agriculture did not emerge uniformly; its development varied significantly across regions. The study highlights the distinct paths of agricultural origins in Africa, New Guinea, the Andes, and East Asia, emphasizing regional differences in timing, practices, and cultural impacts. In Africa, pastoralism played a crucial role, while pottery introduction marked significant changes. Kuk Swamp in New Guinea offers evidence of early domestication linked to village life. The Andes show a relationship between quinoa cultivation and highland environments, whereas China's dual centers of domestication—Cishan and Jiahu—demonstrate diverse agricultural adaptations. This comparative analysis challenges the notion of a single trajectory for agricultural development.
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.
Origin and Development of Agriculture in New Guinea, Island Melanesia, and Polynesia
Agriculture in the Pacific Islands began with early Holocene practices centered on vegetative propagation and underground storage organs, later evolving into complex systems. Kuk Swamp in Papua New Guinea's highlands offers one of the earliest records of agricultural intensification, showing mounded cultivation around 7000–6400 cal BP and wetland drainage by 4400–4000 cal BP. Unlike other regions in Near Oceania, which focused on fruit- and nut-bearing trees, Kuk’s landscape reveals a shift toward more intensive land management. By 3250–2800 cal BP, these practices spread with Lapita pottery-bearers into the western Pacific, while later Polynesian colonization (1000–750 cal BP) introduced new crops like the sweet potato, reshaping regional agriculture.
Phase 2: Mounded Cultivation During the Mid Holocene
Archaeological evidence from Kuk Swamp in the highlands of New Guinea reveals the earliest unequivocal proof of mounded cultivation, dating between 6950 and 6440 years ago. This discovery challenges earlier debates about whether land use practices at Kuk constituted agriculture, providing definitive support for its classification as such. The study contrasts with previous claims that such evidence was insufficient, instead offering robust data from Kuk and comparable mid-Holocene sites in the Wahgi Valley, including Mugumamp and Warrawau. The findings underscore New Guinea's role in the independent origins of agriculture, reinforcing arguments for early agricultural development in the region. This research builds on extensive investigations at Kuk, which have served as a benchmark for interpreting similar finds across highland sites.
Traim tasol … Cultural heritage management in Papua New Guinea
Cultural heritage management in Papua New Guinea is characterized by diverse practices, from community-based ethnoarchaeological projects to large-scale World Heritage nominations. A key insight is the successful integration of archaeological research with local oral traditions and ethnoscience, as demonstrated in a project among the Kalam people of the Simbai Valley. This approach highlights the importance of linking fieldwork with documented cultural knowledge, offering a model for sustainable heritage management. The study also examines challenges associated with the World Heritage nomination process at the Kuk Early Agricultural Site, providing critical observations on the sector's evolving commercial landscape. Conducted over 20 years, this research underscores the need for nuanced, context-specific strategies in managing Papua New Guinea's rich cultural and archaeological heritage.
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