Archaeologists in Australia have unearthed an unknown ancient city site in the Kingdom of Tonga, reshaping our understanding of the history of early Pacific island inhabitants.
Researchers from the Australian National University, Phillip Parton and archaeologist Geoffrey Clark, speculate that these “earthen structures” located on Tonga’s largest island, Tongatapu, were built around the year 300 AD.
“This timeline is 700 years earlier than we previously estimated,” Mr. Parton stated.
Located in Mu’a village, 7.5 kilometers from Tonga’s capital Nuku’alofa, nearly 10,000 earth mounds have been discovered, indicating signs of urbanization and the existence of a city before the arrival of Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1616.
The city site is undoubtedly the oldest known city in the South Pacific region to date, with archaeologists estimating a population of 6,700 to 7,600 residing on this 1,170-hectare site.
Their research report estimated: “The residential density in Mu’a was about 6.16 people per hectare, with areas larger than 100 hectares (independent communities) ranging from 3.80 to 6.47.”
These mounds not only prove the existence of an ancient civilization but also demonstrate how the local residents utilized soil for construction in the absence of stones.
The inhabitants of this city likely built open houses on the mounds to seek shelter from the hot summer, enjoy cool sea breezes, and oversee visitors from elevated positions.
Furthermore, the vast open spaces suggest the presence of park-like facilities, with some residences and burial mounds isolated from other residents through restricted access systems, showing protective characteristics.
The timing of human settlement in Tonga has been disputed, but radiocarbon dating of shells indicates the earliest residents were the Lapita people who arrived over 4000 years ago from Melanesia.
Archaeological studies on Tongatapu reveal signs of early settlement, complex social structures, and extensive long-distance trade networks, significantly contributing to our understanding of the history of Pacific islands.
Mu’a was once the political center of the Tu’i Tonga Empire, which ruled most of Tonga from around 950 AD to 1470 AD.
Excavations in the 1980s uncovered grand stone structures called “langi,” royal tombs, and other ceremonial buildings, indicating a tightly structured society with strong religious and political institutions.
Another significant archaeological site on Tongatapu is the mysterious Ha’amonga’a Maui Trilithon stone archway.
Comprising three massive stones, two upright and one horizontal lintel, similar to stone monuments in other Pacific islands, the exact purpose of Ha’amonga’a Maui Trilithon remains unclear but is believed to hold astronomical significance.
In the latest research, utilizing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) laser technology, researchers uncovered a complex network of earth mounds, numerous public buildings, and defense structures similar to ancient settlements found worldwide.
“We combined advanced mapping techniques with on-site archaeological work to interpret the historical events that occurred on Tongatapu,” Mr. Parton stated in an ABC interview, adding that “such information significantly enriches our understanding of early Pacific civilizations.”
“Urbanization is an area that has not been thoroughly explored until now. When one thinks of early cities, traditional European old towns with compact housing and winding cobblestone streets may come to mind, but the urban form here is entirely different.”
The application of LiDAR technology also revealed large earth mounds known as sia heu lup, built specifically for a sport called pigeon-catching.
As settlements grew, innovative methods were devised to meet the demands of increasing population density, leading to significant social and economic changes.
A notable feature of these pigeon-catching mounds is a central circular pit, approximately 5 to 7 meters in diameter, surrounded by stone walls.
British individual William Marine documented the process of this sport: luring pigeons with a tethered bird and then netting them.
By the 19th century, this sport gradually lost popularity and eventually disappeared from the island.
Mr. Parton suggests that this city may have been a thriving Polynesian trading center; however, its decline possibly began with the arrival of Europeans.
“This city had a significant influence on the southwestern Pacific region from the 13th to the 19th centuries, until the arrival of Europeans and unknown diseases led to its downfall,” Mr. Parton said.
He believes this city’s urbanization process was not an isolated phenomenon and that the latest discovery is just a small part of the many unknown sites, merely scratching the surface.
“I am confident that if we are willing to delve deeper, we will find that this is not the only city site in the Pacific. I am certain there are more sites waiting for us to explore. This is just the beginning of our study of early Pacific settlements,” he expressed in the ABC interview.