The emergence of agriculture was one of the most notable behavioral transformations in human history, driving innovations in technologies and settlement globally, referred to as the Neolithic. Wetland agriculture originated in the New Guinea highlands during the mid-Holocene (8000 to 4000 years ago), yet it is unclear if there was associated behavioral change. Here, we report the earliest figurative stone carving and formally manufactured pestles in Oceania, dating to 5050 to 4200 years ago. These discoveries, at the highland site of Waim, occur with the earliest planilateral axe-adzes in New Guinea, the first evidence for fibercraft, and interisland obsidian transfer. The combination of symbolic social systems, complex technologies, and highland agricultural intensification supports an independent emergence of a Neolithic ~1000 years before the arrival of Neolithic migrants (Lapita) from Southeast Asia.

农业的出现是人类历史上最显着的行为转变之一，在全球范围内推动了技术创新和定居，这被称为新石器时代。湿地农业起源于全新世中期（8000至4000年前）的新几内亚高地，但目前尚不清楚是否存在相关的行为变化。在这里，我们报道了大洋洲最早的具象石刻和正式制造的杵，可追溯到5050至4200年前。这些发现发生在怀恩高地，是新几内亚最早的平面侧斧状突袭，这是纤维飞机和岛间黑曜石转移的第一个证据。象征性社会制度，复杂技术的结合，