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The Invention of Agriculture in New Guinea

Tides of History

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The Evolution of Agriculture in the Highlands of New Guinea

Agriculture in the New Guinea Highlands did not lead to cities, monumental buildings, or territorial empires centered on the Upper Wagi Valley. Pottery appeared around 4,000 years ago, but it wasn't particularly widespread. The Cook Swamp farmers didn't go looking for animals to domesticate. Pigs were eventually introduced to New Guinea but not for several thousand years. In other words, there's no inevitable, unstoppable development from those first cleared patches of forest to quote unquote civilization.

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