考古學(xué)的證據(jù)提示,，新幾內(nèi)亞高地的某些最早的人類在近5萬年前就已經(jīng)用砍伐樹木來空出土地以種植有用的植物了,。 這些發(fā)現(xiàn)可能代表了人類占據(jù)薩胡爾（Sahul）的最早的記錄。
薩胡爾是曾經(jīng)連接澳大利亞和巴布亞新幾內(nèi)亞的大陸塊,。 該地塊被水所隔絕,，這是世界上被現(xiàn)代人類所拓殖的最后的主要土地之一。 Glenn Reginald及其同僚描述了在新幾內(nèi)亞高地的一個(gè)考古遺址,，在那里,，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)了被燒焦的露兜樹的堅(jiān)果殼，該樹還會(huì)生出有用途的葉子及菠蘿樣的果實(shí),。 他們還發(fā)現(xiàn)了來自薯蕷的淀粉顆粒,。人們可能是在其海拔較低且較為溫暖的自然生長地采集到這些薯蕷的。
該遺址存在著一類被認(rèn)為是用來切割植被的石制的斧子，提示該遺址的早期居民曾用其清理出成片的森林,，使得陽光能夠透過并促使食用及其它有用植物的生長,。 在一則相關(guān)的觀點(diǎn)欄目中，Chris Gosden提出,，生活在這里的狩獵采集者是群體小,、流動(dòng)度高的人群；他們?cè)谌缃竦陌筒紒喰聨變?nèi)亞的內(nèi)陸山區(qū)鏈上下活動(dòng),。 這種活動(dòng)為幾千年后開始的人類向薩胡爾的其它地區(qū)遷徙創(chuàng)造了條件,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦英文摘要：
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1193130
Human Adaptation and Plant Use in Highland New Guinea 49,000 to 44,000 Years Ago
Glenn R. Summerhayes,1,* Matthew Leavesley,2 Andrew Fairbairn,3 Herman Mandui,4 Judith Field,5 Anne Ford,1 Richard Fullagar6
After their emergence by 200,000 years before the present in Africa, modern humans colonized the globe, reaching Australia and New Guinea by 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. Understanding how humans lived and adapted to the range of environments in these areas has been difficult because well-preserved settlements are scarce. Data from the New Guinea Highlands (at an elevation of ~2000 meters) demonstrate the exploitation of the endemic nut Pandanus and yams in archaeological sites dated to 49,000 to 36,000 years ago, which are among the oldest human sites in this region. The sites also contain stone tools thought to be used to remove trees, which suggests that the early inhabitants cleared forest patches to promote the growth of useful plants.
1 Department of Anthropology, Gender and Sociology, University of Otago, Post Office Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
2 Department of Anthropology, University of Papua New Guinea, Post Office Box 320, University Post Office, National Capital District, Papua New Guinea.
3 Department of Archaeology, School of Social Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queeensland 4072, Australia.
4 National Museum and Art Gallery of Papua New Guinea, Post Office Box 5560, Boroko National Capital District, Papua New Guinea.
5 Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis F09, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.
6 Scarp Archaeology, Post Office Box 7241, South Sydney Hub, New South Wales 2015, Australia.
