Historical site to be maintained

National

TIES that exist between the National Museum and Art Gallery and the Kawelka people who own the land on which the Kuk archaeological site is located are progressing.
The relationship between the two was reinforced after the museum announced its intention to use a portion of the area for the Kuk Heritage Park project.
The Kuk archaeological site is located near the city of Mt Hagen in Western Highlands.
Museum archaeologist Alois Kuaso said the site contained stories and archaeological evidence of the history of agriculture in New Guinea dating 10,000 years ago and would be great to share them with the rest of the world.
“Kuk and the nearby Waghi swampland was first explored in 1933 by Europeans, who found intensive cultivation of sweet potatoes, bananas and yam,” Kuaso said.
Chief Ru Kundil, speaking on behalf of his people, said they were tired of seeing people come and go, make statements and promises after promises and wanted something done in Kuk.
He was pleased that the museum had initiated the idea of a park and pledged to support the project.
Although work on Kuk is progressing slowly, the museum donated two grass cutters for the maintenance and preservation of the site.
Archaeologists and researchers at the museum have begun compiling archaeological history and features buried beneath the park site to create static displays that can visually inform the public and visitors about the importance of the site. The displays will be mounted onto concrete slabs once completed.