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South Pacific Historical Sites
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The Pacific people migrated to the islands in several mass movements. The first migration left South East Asia about 30,000 years ago to settle Papua New Guinea and Solomons. The second, larger migration, left South East Asia almost 3000 years ago and in several movements spread across the ocean and culminated in the final settlement of Hawaii and New Zealand about 1000 years ago.
more about the Great Pacific Migration
The Pacific people in pre-European contact lived an ordered life dictated by kings and gods and dominated by the sea. Whilst there are few archaeological sites to match the Pyramids of Egypt, the Mayan Temples or the Great Cities of Europe, the South Pacific people left behind its own legacy - that of navigating the ocean and understanding its intricate system of winds, currents, ocean temperatures and star patterns. Not only did these people inhabit the remotest parts of this world, but they frequently journeyed between islands both for war and trade. It was not uncommon for a group to set sail in a small outrigger canoe to trade with its neighbour, 500miles or more across the empty ocean and return with its bounty. And the great Tongan Empire made frequent raids on island nations as far away as the Solomons, over 1,500 miles to the west!
Archaeological sites do exist throughout the islands. Most take the visible form of ancient stone foundations upon which religious meeting places were built (the temples and houses were built from wood and coconut fronds and have since eroded with time). Highlights include the sunken city of Nan Madol on Pohnpei Island in Micronesia, the Pumulei Stone mound on Savaii island in Samoa (the largest known ancient structure in Polynesia), the Trilithon and ancient city of Lahapa on Tongatapu Island in Tonga, the To'aga archaeological site on Ofu Island in American Samoa with its spiritual significance, the Moai stone statues on Easter Island, ancient marae of Huahine Island in French Polynesia, the tiki and paepae of Meiaute on Ua Huka Island in the Marquesas, and the Mailekini Heiau and City of Refuge Historic Park on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Unfortunately few ancient artefacts can be found in the Museums around the South Pacific and most of the ancient treasures are the possession of the large museums of the world stored in warehouses away from public view for lack of viewing space. The best Museums in the region include the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Fiji Museum in Suva and the Punaauia Museum in Tahiti.
The first of the European explorers to cross the Pacific Ocean was in 1521 when the Portuguese navigator Magellan sailed from the tip of South America all the way across empty ocean until he spotted Guam in Micronesia and landed but with disastrous effect. Thus followed other explorers including Mendana, Le Maire, Wallis, Bouganville and D'Urville. The most famous and most successful in chartering the islands was Captain James Cook who made three voyages, 1768-71, 1771-75 and 1776-79. Within these expeditions he chartered New Zealand, New Caledonia and the Pacific coast of Australia, he landed on Tahiti , Tonga and the Cook Islands and finally, chartered and landed on Hawaii where he met his death.
The other famous navigator in the region was Captain Bligh who was mutineered on his ship the Bounty and cast off in Tongan waters in a small wooden boat for his death. Instead, Bligh courageously battled the elements, sailed through Fiji where he was chased by warring tribes and made it to the nearest European settlement at Dutch Timor, some 5000 miles away.
The first Missionary outposts were established by the London Missionary Society in 1797 on Tahiti Island, the Marquesas Islands and Tonga. In the 1820's, the Bible was translated into Tahitian and its people travelled the Pacific to spread the gospel, and with enormous success.
By the mid-1800's, whaling, sandalwood trade, beache-de-Mer and Blackbirding were making merchants rich, European outposts were being established and so began the demise of ancient pacific culture and rule.
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