Nan Madol

Nan Madol

Federated States of Micronesia · Pohnpei

Ancient cityUnknownUNESCO · 2016
Approximate period900 CE — 1,700 CEMonumental construction from approximately the 10th century onward; Saudeleur period and later uses See on the map ↓

In brief

Nan Madol, off the coast of Temwen Island, is a ceremonial and political center built on artificial islets. It contains the remains of palaces, temples, residences, and tombs. Archaeological excavations and the dating of building corals have been used to investigate the center's development.

What was found?

  • 1Walls of basalt columns

    Building and enclosure walls on the artificial islets were constructed from basalt columns and coral material. They document how large stone structures were built on the seashore.

  • 2Nandowas burial complex

    Contains monumental tombs associated with Saudeleur rulers and early Nahnmwarki leaders. It shows the space within the center devoted to commemorating ruling families and to burial practices.

  • 3Pahnkedira building complex

    Architectural remains on the islet associated with the Saudeleur ruler's residential area. They are important for understanding Nan Madol's administrative and residential functions.

  • 4Corals used in construction

    Coral fragments used as building material have been dated using the uranium-thorium method. These measurements allow different construction phases to be investigated.

  • 5Charcoal from excavation layers

    Samples taken from excavations on the islets of Dau and Kohnderek have been examined using radiocarbon dating. Together with the coral dates, they contribute to the chronology of the settlement's use.

What does it point to?

Nan Madol was a center bringing together rulers' residences, ceremonial areas, and tombs. The scale and technical arrangement of the buildings indicate a political structure capable of organizing large amounts of labor.

What did it teach us?

  1. Showed that complex administrative and ceremonial centers equipped with large stone buildings developed on Pacific islands.
  2. Revealed, according to research dated 2024, that the principal construction phases spanned the 10th–15th centuries AD.
  3. Showed that dating building materials and excavation layers together can lead to a reassessment of the chronology.

Images

Nan madol
NOAA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

A coral-dating study published in 2024 proposed a previously unidentified early construction phase dating to approximately 930–1130.

Record

Culture
Pohnpei; Saudeleur
Coordinates
6.8397°, 158.3308°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. whc.unesco.org
  4. ICOMOS — Nan Madol değerlendirmesi
  5. PNAS Nexus — Links between climatic histories and the rise and fall of a Pacific chiefdom

Nearby excavations


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12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

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    Heritage Daily ↗
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