Kuk Early Agricultural Site
The Cook Early Agricultural Site is located in the western highlands of New Guinea at an altitude of 1,500 meters and covers an area of 116 hectares. Archaeological excavations have shown that the feature is one of wetland reclamation, which was carried out almost continuously for 7,000 years and possibly as long as 10,000 years. The well-preserved archaeological remains at the site show the technological leap from plant exploitation to agriculture about 6,500 years ago. It is an excellent example of how agricultural practices have changed over time, from cultivating mounds to digging trenches with wooden tools to drain wetlands. Cook is one of the few places in the world with archaeological evidence of agriculture developing independently and agricultural practices changing over such a long period of time.