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Britannica Sources used in this answer

When did Papuan peoples begin domesticating root crops and sugarcane in New Guinea?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Map of the Pacific Ocean region showing three major culture areas highlighted in different colors: Micronesia in purple, Melanesia in green, and Polynesia in yellow. The map includes labeled islands and island groups such as Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, with the culture area boundaries spanning across the central and southern Pacific.
Melanesian culture

Evidence from archaeological sites, such as those at Kuk near Mount Hagen, indicates that intensive agricultural activity—including the cultivation of root crops and other plants—has been practiced in the Highlands of New Guinea for approximately 7,000 years.1

While specific dates for the initial domestication of individual crops like sugarcane are often part of this broader agricultural tradition, the archaeological record confirms that Papuan peoples have maintained these intensive food-production systems for millennia. These early systems relied on techniques such as water management, soil mounding, and composting to support the cultivation of staples like taro and yams, alongside other domesticates.12