UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea has 1 site on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1 cultural), the first inscribed in 2008 (Kuk Swamp). The map below plots it alongside the rest of the List, and each site is written up in full further down the page.
- World Heritage Sites
- 1
- Cultural
- 1
- Natural and Mixed
- 0
- First Inscribed
- 2008
Map of World Heritage Sites in Papua New Guinea
CulturalNaturalMixedIn DangerLarge dots are in Papua New Guinea. Click a dot to read about the site.
Kuk Swamp
Papua New Guinea · 5.7825° S, 144.3300° E · 1 km² · 15 km from Mount Hagen
Kuk Swamp is an archaeological site in Papua New Guinea, that lies in the Wahgi Valley of the highlands at an altitude of about 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) some 12–13 kilometres (7.5–8.1 mi) northeast of Mount Hagen, the capital of Western Highlands Province. 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, as one of the places in the world where people independently developed agriculture.
Currently, the Kawelka people, a Melpa-speaking tribe, lives in the Kuk Swamp area.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Kuk Swamp (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Why Kuk Swamp Is Listed
- (iii)
- A unique testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.
- (iv)
- An outstanding example of a type of building or landscape.
More about Kuk Swamp
UNESCO's Description
Kuk Early Agricultural Site consists of 116 ha of swamps in the western highlands of New Guinea 1,500 metres above sea-level. Archaeological excavation has revealed the landscape to be one of wetland reclamation worked almost continuously for 7,000, and possibly for 10,000 years. It contains well-preserved archaeological remains demonstrating the technological leap which transformed plant exploitation to agriculture around 6,500 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.
From the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (CC BY-SA IGO 3.0).
History
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. 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.
Irrigation draining ditches, dating back to 9,000 years ago, have also been found at the site.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kuk Swamp (CC BY-SA 4.0).
World Heritage in Papua New Guinea: Quick Answers
- How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in Papua New Guinea?
- Papua New Guinea has 1 World Heritage Site: 1 cultural.
- What was the first World Heritage Site in Papua New Guinea?
- Kuk Swamp, inscribed in 2008.
- Are any World Heritage Sites in Papua New Guinea in danger?
- None of the World Heritage Sites in Papua New Guinea is on UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger.