World Heritage
Kuk Early Agricultural Site
Kuk Early Agricultural Site consists of 116 ha of swamps in the western highlands of New Guinea 1500 metres above sealevel Archaeological excavation has revealed the landscape to be one of wetland reclamation worked almost continuously for 7000 and possibly for 10000 years It contains wellpreserved archaeological remains demonstrating the technological leap which transformed plant exploitation to agriculture around 6500 years ago It is an excellent example of transformation of agricultural practices over time from cultivation mounds to draining the wetlands through the digging of ditches with wooden tools Kuk is one of the few places in the world where archaeological evidence suggests independent agricultural development and changes in agricultural practice over such a long period of time
Papua New Guinea -