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Where It's At
The most famous of all the archaeological sites in the Federated
States of Micronesia is Nan Madol on Pohnpei
Island. The state of Pohnpei is made up of the large
Pohnpei Island plus six surrounding inhabited atolls. Pohnpei
Island is the largest and tallest of all the Micronesian
islands. Due to the island being so mountainous, a much higher
level of rainfall is experienced than on neighboring islands.
Forty rivers running down from the mountains making it a lush,
tropical paradise.
History of Nan Madol
Nan Madol comprises over 90 rectilinear islets constructed
on the reef flat next to Temwen Island in Pohnpei's
lagoon. The ruins of Nan Madol have collapsed but it is still
an impressive structure that used to house temples, vaults,
bathing areas, and pools. Called the 'Venice of the Pacific',
Nan Madol was a manmade city with ocean-filled channels which
once housed a thriving, royal civilization.
It is thought that there was human activity at this site
as early as the first or second century, but it is probable
that the structure of Nan Madol was not built until the twelve
or thirteenth century by the Saudeleur Dynasty (500AD
to 1450AD).
As a complete structure Nan Madol would have been awe inspiring.
It was architecturally magnificent, built from basalt pillars
- in a similar way that you might build a log chalet - with
the logs layered in opposite directions. Instead of logs,
the naturally formed crystalline blocks of basalt were transported
a long way form their source to the site.
Archaeological evidence and oral traditions relate that Nan
Madol was the administrative and religious centre (Madol Pah)
of Pohnpei. The labor costs and power commanded to build such
structures from basalt were huge, showing that the Saudeleur
must have been very powerful kings. It is said that Isokelekel,
the people's hero, was instrumental in overthrowing the Saudeleur
and replacing them with the Nahnmwarki whose heritage
stills lives on with the islanders today.
Nan Madol is thought to have had religious or ceremonial significance.
Priests are thought to have overseen mortuary practices and
the day-to-day living of nobility who inhabited Nan Madol.
There were two separate areas: one for the living and another
for the dead. It is thought that a population of less than
a thousand lived in Nan Madol. Madol Powe, the mortuary
part of the site, was spread over 58 islets in the northeast
of the complex. Other islets in the complex seem to have been
assigned specific functions where priests carried out practical
tasks like coconut oil preparation on Peinering.
Visiting Nan Madol Today
Tours can be organized from Pohnpei Island, either
to learn about the history of Nan Madol or as part of a general
natural history tour. |
