Nan Madol

Hello All,

Our Neighbours parent are currently visiting so I took the opportunity to join them on a visit to one of the wonders of the world here in Pohnpei. 

Unlike other tourist attractions around the world, there are no sign posts, the road is half washed away by the rain, and there is no ticket counter.

As you cross through the first property (by vehicle) a lady comes out to the car and you pay her $1 each to cross her land. Once at the place where the walk starts..........someones home....you pay them $3 to cross their land. You then walk some beaten tracks through the mangroves and trees over rickety little bridges till you come upon one of the most amazing constructions.

They are a sight to behold and you can only imagine how long it took to build all those years ago.

I have included some information obtained from http://www.janeresture.com/micronesia_madol/

Paul

Mysterious Nan Madol, Pohnpei

Although dozens of ancient sites exist on Pohnpei, none exceeds the elite centre of Nan Madol in architectural magnificence. Indeed, no greater record of prehistoric achievement exists in all of Micronesia than the 92 islets of ancient Nan Madol.

Set apart on the main island of Pohnpei, the ceremonial centre was the scene of human activity as early as the first or second century AD. By the 8th or 9th century, islet construction had begun, but the distinctive megalithic architecture of Nan Madol probably was not begun until perhaps the latter 12th or early 13th century.

The elite centre was a special place of residence for the nobility and of mortuary activities presided over by priests. Its population almost certainly did not exceed 1,000 and may have been less than half that.

Madol Powe, the mortuary sector contains 58 islets in the northeastern area of Nan Madol. Most of the islets once were occupied by the dwellings of priests. Some islets serve special purposes, such as food preparations on Usennamw, canoe making on Dapahu, and coconut oil preparation on Peinering. High walls surrounding tombs are located on the mortuary islets of Peinkitel, Nandauwas, Karian, and Lemenkou.

The crowning achievements of Nan Madol is the royal mortuary islet of Nandauwas. Here, walls of 18 to 25 feet high surround a central tomb enclosure within the main courtyard. Karian anchors the east corner of Nan Madol on the edge of the reef facing the open Pacific. Karian's most distinctive feature is its handsome main entry portal below a massive lintel supporting the upper wall. Peinkitel is built partly on the shores of Temwen Island, one of the few islets in Nan Madol not bounded on all four sides by the waters of the lagoon. Here within a secondary enclosure, lies a large tomb that is said to contain the remains of the legendary Isokelekel. The hero is supposed to have conquered the saudeleur and instituted thenahnmwarki title system that persists on Pohnpei to this day.