Kuk Swamp, Archaeological site in Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kuk Swamp is an archaeological site in a former lake basin at 1550 meters elevation that contains remnants of ancient water management systems and early gardens. The area shows a network of large drainage channels, field ditches, and smaller irrigation pathways that people created to manage water in their fields.
Archaeological work at this location has uncovered evidence of human settlement and farming stretching back approximately 10,000 years through distinct periods of occupation. This long timeline demonstrates how early Pacific communities gradually developed and adapted their farming methods over millennia.
The site displays wooden digging tools and grinding stones that reveal how early communities worked their land and prepared food. These objects tell the story of daily farming practices that people relied on for thousands of years.
The location sits at elevation in hilly terrain, so you should prepare for rain and muddy ground at any time. Sturdy shoes with good grip are essential for safely walking across the old field systems and ditch areas.
Microscopic plant remains of bananas were discovered at the site, indicating that people here practiced one of the earliest deliberate cultivation efforts of this crop. This finding suggests residents were experimenting with food crops and actively selecting plants to grow.
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