Kuk Swamp is an archaeological site in Papua New Guinea, that lies in the Wahgi Valley of the highlands. The swamp developed in a former lake basin, as it was filled by an alluvial fan or deposits of water-transported material. Archaeological evidence for early agricultural drainage systems was found here, beginning about 9,000 years ago. It includes draining ditches of three major classes, which were used to convert the area to an anthropogenic grassland. The native crop taro was grown here.
In addition, evidence of cultivation of bananas and sugar cane has been found, estimated to have begun 6,900 – 6,400 years ago. The Kuk Swamp was recognized in 2008 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was one of the places in the world where people independently developed agriculture.
The Kuk Creek flows through the entirety of the fan to a catchment in the lower hills of the south region. Channels were constructed to carry water past the reach of the fan. If these channels were blocked, the area would develop into a swamp, diverting water into smaller distributary channels. Archaeological evidence for early agricultural drainage systems, dating back to about 9,000 years ago, has been found here.[1] Features such as pits, postholes, and runnels have been discovered at the site, indicating early agricultural practices such as planting, digging, and tethering of plants.[1]
Irrigation draining ditches, dating back to 9,000 years ago, have also been found at the site. A variety of plants, including taro, were grown at what would have been the edge of their cultivable limit in the highlands. These ditches can be classified into three types: major disposal channels, large field ditches, and small field ditches. Major disposal channels were constructed to divert water flowing south from the fan and direct it towards the northeast areas. Large and small field ditches are more uniform and surround the perimeter of planting areas. They connect with major disposal channels. During this time, the people of Kuk Swamp transformed their landscape into an anthropogenic grassland suitable for agriculture.[1]
During archaeological excavation of drainage channels, artifacts such as wooden digging sticks and a grindstone were discovered. The ditches were cleaned out and a small trench was dug to study the different layers of clay used in their construction. These layers suggest that the ditches were deliberately constructed by people.[1]
Additional archaeobotanical evidence, dated to between 6,900 and 6,400 years ago, has been discovered showing the cultivation of bananas and sugar cane at Kuk Swamp.[2] Numerous banana phytoliths have been found in the cultivation plots of the swamp. As bananas do not produce phytoliths in the same quantity and frequency as grasses and other plants, researchers have concluded that the abundance of banana phytoliths found in a managed grassland landscape between 6950 and 6550 years ago indicates deliberate planting. The bananas grown at Kuk Swamp were Eumusa bananas, which became the most significant and largest group of banana domesticates. This makes Kuk Swamp one of the earliest known sites for the development of agriculture.[1]
In recognition of its historical significance, Kuk Swamp was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008.
^ abcdeDenham, T. P.; Haberle, S. G.; Lentfer, C.; Fullagar, R.; Field, J.; Therin, M.; Porch, N.; Winsborough, B. (2003-07-11). "Origins of Agriculture at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of New Guinea". Science. 301 (5630): 189–193. doi:10.1126/science.1085255. ISSN 0036-8075.
^Lewis, Tara; Denham, Tim; Golson, Jack (2016). "A renewed archaeological and archaeobotanical assessment of house sites at Kuk Swamp in the highlands of Papua New Guinea". Archaeology in Oceania. 51 (S1): 91–103. doi:10.1002/arco.5113. hdl:10536/DRO/DU:30103563. ISSN 0728-4896.
Bibliographyedit
Golson, J., T.P. Denham, P.J. Hughes, P. Swadling and J. Muke (eds.) 2017. Ten Thousand Years of Cultivation at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Terra Australis 46. Canberra: ANU E Press (available online)
Bayliss-Smith, T, Golson, J, Hughes, P et al 2005, 'Archaeological evidence for the Ipomoean Revolution at Kuk swamp, upper Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea', in Chris Ballard, Paula Brown, R. Michael Bourke and Tracy Harwood (ed.), The Sweet Potato in Oceania: a reappraisal, Oceania Publications and University of Pittsburgh, Rosebery, NSW, Australia, pp. 109-120.
Denham, T, Golson, J & Hughes, P 2004, 'Reading early agriculture at Kuk Swamp, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea: the archaeological features (phases 1-3)', Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, vol. 70, pp. 259-97.
Muke, J. Mandui, H. Oct 2003. "In the shadows of Kuk: Evidence of prehistoric agriculture at Kana, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea," Archaeology in Oceania. 38, 3, pp.177–185.
Bayliss-Smith, T. Golson, J. April 1992. "A colocasian revolution in the New Guinea highlands? Insights from phase 4 at Kuk," Archaeology in Oceania. 27,1, pp.1–22.
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February 16, 2024
swamp, archaeological, site, papua, guinea, that, lies, wahgi, valley, highlands, swamp, developed, former, lake, basin, filled, alluvial, deposits, water, transported, material, archaeological, evidence, early, agricultural, drainage, systems, found, here, be. Kuk Swamp is an archaeological site in Papua New Guinea that lies in the Wahgi Valley of the highlands The swamp developed in a former lake basin as it was filled by an alluvial fan or deposits of water transported material Archaeological evidence for early agricultural drainage systems was found here beginning about 9 000 years ago It includes draining ditches of three major classes which were used to convert the area to an anthropogenic grassland The native crop taro was grown here Kuk Early Agricultural SiteUNESCO World Heritage SiteSatellite image of the wider Kuk Swamp areaLocationPapua New GuineaCriteriaCultural iii iv Reference887Inscription2008 32nd Session Area116 ha 290 acres Buffer zone195 ha 480 acres Coordinates5 47 1 36 S 144 19 54 2 E 5 7837111 S 144 331722 E 5 7837111 144 331722Location of Kuk Swamp in Papua New GuineaIn addition evidence of cultivation of bananas and sugar cane has been found estimated to have begun 6 900 6 400 years ago The Kuk Swamp was recognized in 2008 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO It was one of the places in the world where people independently developed agriculture Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory editThe Kuk Creek flows through the entirety of the fan to a catchment in the lower hills of the south region Channels were constructed to carry water past the reach of the fan If these channels were blocked the area would develop into a swamp diverting water into smaller distributary channels Archaeological evidence for early agricultural drainage systems dating back to about 9 000 years ago has been found here 1 Features such as pits postholes and runnels have been discovered at the site indicating early agricultural practices such as planting digging and tethering of plants 1 Irrigation draining ditches dating back to 9 000 years ago have also been found at the site A variety of plants including taro were grown at what would have been the edge of their cultivable limit in the highlands These ditches can be classified into three types major disposal channels large field ditches and small field ditches Major disposal channels were constructed to divert water flowing south from the fan and direct it towards the northeast areas Large and small field ditches are more uniform and surround the perimeter of planting areas They connect with major disposal channels During this time the people of Kuk Swamp transformed their landscape into an anthropogenic grassland suitable for agriculture 1 During archaeological excavation of drainage channels artifacts such as wooden digging sticks and a grindstone were discovered The ditches were cleaned out and a small trench was dug to study the different layers of clay used in their construction These layers suggest that the ditches were deliberately constructed by people 1 Additional archaeobotanical evidence dated to between 6 900 and 6 400 years ago has been discovered showing the cultivation of bananas and sugar cane at Kuk Swamp 2 Numerous banana phytoliths have been found in the cultivation plots of the swamp As bananas do not produce phytoliths in the same quantity and frequency as grasses and other plants researchers have concluded that the abundance of banana phytoliths found in a managed grassland landscape between 6950 and 6550 years ago indicates deliberate planting The bananas grown at Kuk Swamp were Eumusa bananas which became the most significant and largest group of banana domesticates This makes Kuk Swamp one of the earliest known sites for the development of agriculture 1 In recognition of its historical significance Kuk Swamp was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2008 See also editIndigenous people of New Guinea Austronesian peoples Domesticated plants and animals of AustronesiaReferences edit a b c d e Denham T P Haberle S G Lentfer C Fullagar R Field J Therin M Porch N Winsborough B 2003 07 11 Origins of Agriculture at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of New Guinea Science 301 5630 189 193 doi 10 1126 science 1085255 ISSN 0036 8075 Lewis Tara Denham Tim Golson Jack 2016 A renewed archaeological and archaeobotanical assessment of house sites at Kuk Swamp in the highlands of Papua New Guinea Archaeology in Oceania 51 S1 91 103 doi 10 1002 arco 5113 hdl 10536 DRO DU 30103563 ISSN 0728 4896 Bibliography edit Golson J T P Denham P J Hughes P Swadling and J Muke eds 2017 Ten Thousand Years of Cultivation at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea Terra Australis 46 Canberra ANU E Press available online Bayliss Smith T Golson J Hughes P et al 2005 Archaeological evidence for the Ipomoean Revolution at Kuk swamp upper Wahgi Valley Papua New Guinea in Chris Ballard Paula Brown R Michael Bourke and Tracy Harwood ed The Sweet Potato in Oceania a reappraisal Oceania Publications and University of Pittsburgh Rosebery NSW Australia pp 109 120 Denham T Golson J amp Hughes P 2004 Reading early agriculture at Kuk Swamp Wahgi Valley Papua New Guinea the archaeological features phases 1 3 Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society vol 70 pp 259 97 Muke J Mandui H Oct 2003 In the shadows of Kuk Evidence of prehistoric agriculture at Kana Wahgi Valley Papua New Guinea Archaeology in Oceania 38 3 pp 177 185 Bayliss Smith T Golson J April 1992 A colocasian revolution in the New Guinea highlands Insights from phase 4 at Kuk Archaeology in Oceania 27 1 pp 1 22 External links editNational Geo article List Data Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kuk Swamp amp oldid 1185983806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
