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Reading Early Agriculture at Kuk Swamp, Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea: the Archaeological Features (Phases 1–3)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

T. P. Denham ,
J. Golson  and
P. J. Hughes
T. P. Denham
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, School of Humanities, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tim.Denham@flinders.edu.au
J. Golson
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and Natural History, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. jackg@postbox.anu.edu.au
P. J. Hughes
Affiliation:
Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia. heh@bigpond.net.au
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Abstract

Multi-disciplinary field investigations were undertaken in 1972–7 and 1998–9 at Kuk Swamp in the upper Wahgi Valley in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Multi-period finds dating from the early Holocene to the recent past and interpreted to represent human manipulation of a wetland margin for plant exploitation were documented. The archaeological remains dating from the early to mid-Holocene have partially grounded contested claims for the emergence of early and independent agricultural practices on the island of New Guinea. In this paper, the early to mid- Holocene archaeological remains at the site (ie, those allocated to Phases 1, 2, and 3) are reported in detail. The authors of this paper all agree that plant exploitation began at Kuk at c. 10,000 cal BP, however they hold different interpretations of the archaeological evidence from the swamp, which have in turn led to diverse claims for the antiquity of agriculture in New Guinea by at least c. 10,000 cal BP (Golson and Hughes), or by at least 6950–6440 cal BP (Denham). Divergent readings of the archaeological remains are presented at length in order to clarify the evidential bases for the varying claims and to promote future discussion.

Résumé

On a entrepris des prospections de terrain multidisciplinaires entre 1972 et 1977 et en 1998–99 à Kuk Swamp dans la vallée supérieure de Wahgi dans les Hautes Terres de la Papouasie, Nouvelle-Guinée. On a documenté des trouvailles relatives à différentes périodes allant du début de l'Holocène au passé récent et considérées commereprésentant la manipulation humaine d'une bande demarécages dans le but d'en exploiter les végétaux. Lesvestiges archéologiques datant du début jusqu'au milieu de l'Holocène ont en partie conforté les théories contestées sur l'émergence de pratiques agricoles précoces et indépendantes sur l'île de la Nouvelle-Guinée. On présente dans cette étude un compte-rendu détaillé des vestiges archéologiques retrouvés sur le site et qui vont du début au milieu de l'Holocène (c'est à dire ceux alloués aux phases 1–2 et 3). Les auteurs de cette étude sont tous d'accord que l'exploitation des végétaux commença à Kuk vers environ 10 000 ans avant le présent en années calibrées; toutefois, ils diffèrent dans leur interprétation des témoignages archéologiques provenant des marais, ce qui a eu pour conséquence de conduire à diverses propositions pour l'ancienneté de l'agriculture en Nouvelle-Guinée, 10 000 ans avant le présent en années calibrées (Golson et Hughes) ou au moins entre 6 950 et 6440 ans avant le présent en années calibrées (Denham). On présente les lectures divergentes des vestiges archéologiques en détail de manière à clarifier les éléments qui servent de bases aux diverses propositions et pour promouvoir de futures discussions.

Zusammenfassung

Von 1972–1977 und 1998–1999 wurden multi-disziplinäre Felduntersuchungen im Sumpf von Kuk im oberen Wahgi Talim Hochland von Papua-Neuguinea durchgeführt. Funde aus mehreren Perioden wurden dokumentiert, die vom frühen Holozän bis in die jüngere Vergangenheit reichen und als menschliche Eingriffe zur Pflanzennutzung in Feuchtgebietsrändern interpretiert wurden. Die vom frühen zum mittleren Holozän datierenden archäologischen Reste untermauern teilweise die strittigen Ansprüche auf eine Entstehung früher und unabhängiger ackerbaulichen Praktiken auf der Insel Papua-Neuguinea. In diesem Beitrag wird detailliert über die archäologischen Reste der Fundstelle aus dem frühen bis mittleren Holozän (d.h. Phasen 1, 2, und 3) berichtet. Die Autoren sind sich einig, dass in Kruk die Pflanzennutzung um circa 10,000 cal BP begann; sie interpretieren jedoch die archäologischen Befunde aus dem Sumpf, die wiederum zu verschiedenen Ansprüchen auf das Alter von Ackerbau in Papua-Neuguinea auf c. 10,000 cal BP (Golson and Hughes) oder zumindest auf 6950-6440 cal BP (Denham) geführt haben, unterschiedlich. Um die Grundlagen für die unter schiedlichen Thesen zu klären und zukünftige Diskussionen zu fördern, werden die divergierenden Interpretationen der archäologischen Reste ausführlich dargelegt.

Résumen

En 1972–7 y 1998–9 se realizaron investigaciones de campo de carácter multi-disciplinar en Kuk Swamp, en el alto Valle de Wahgi en las tierras altas de Papua Nueva Guinea. Se documentaron hallazgos de varios periodos desde el primer Holoceno al pasado más reciente, que fueron interpretados como representativos de la manipulación humana de la zona marginal de tierras húmedas para la explotación de plantas. Los restos arqueológicos que datan entre el Primer Holoceno y el Holoceno Medio han substanciado parcialmente las disputadas alegaciones acerca de la temprana emergencia de prácticas agrícolas de carácter independiente en la isla de Nueva Guinea. En este trabajo se informa en detalle acerca de los restos arqueológicos en el yacimiento (ésto es, los de las Fases 1, 2, y 3). Todos los autores de este trabajo están de acuerdo en que la explotación de plantas en Kuk comenzó alrededor del 10,000 cal BP, aunque mantienen distintas interpretaciones para la evidencia arqueológica procedente de la ciénaga, que a su vez han resultado en distintas posturas sobre la datación de la agricultura de Nueva Guinea a hace unos 10,000 años cal BP (Golson y Hughes), o a, al menos, 6950–6440 años cal BP (Denham). Las diversas lecturas de los restos arqueológicos son presentadas detenidamente para así clarificar la evidencia en la que se basan las distintas hipótesis y promover futuros debates.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 70 , 2004 , pp. 259 - 297
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2004

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