Contiguous multi-proxy analyses (X-Radiography, Diatom, Pollen, and Microcharcoal) of holocene archaeological features at Kuk Swamp, Upper Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea

Tim Denham*, Kale Sniderman, Krystyna M. Saunders, Barbara Winsborough, Alain Pierret

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Contiguous multi-proxy analyses (X-radiography, diatom, pollen, and microcharcoal) have been conducted on the fills of early, mid-, and mid-late Holocene features at Kuk Swamp, Upper Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea. The features are associated with key periods of archaeological interest: plant exploitation (ca. 10,000 cal yr B.P.), earliest cultivation (6950-6440 cal yr B.P.), and earliest ditches (ca. 4000 cal yr B.P.). The analyses are designed to clarify uncertainties regarding the reliability and association of different samples within feature fills for the interpretation of human activities on the wetland in the past. Methodologically, these investigations have clarified site formation processes, including pedogenesis within feature fills, which enable a better determination of archaeological associations for different samples within those fills. Substantively, the results provide higher resolution interpretations of pale-oenvironments and past human activities on the wetland margin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)715-742
Number of pages28
JournalGeoarchaeology - An International Journal
Volume24
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

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