Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Precision laser aerial surveys have uncovered previously hidden details of Nan Madol, an ancient stone city located in the Pacific Ocean. The site, also known as the “Venice of the Pacific,” offers new insights into the advanced nature of this megalithic city.
The surveys, conducted using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, revealed a sophisticated network of cultivation features beneath the dense vegetation of Temwen Island, where Nan Madol is situated. This discovery is reshaping understanding of Pacific Island cultures.
Often compared to the legendary city of Atlantis, Nan Madol has captured researchers’ attention, with plans now underway to preserve it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The findings highlight the city’s prominence before its decline.
The new evidence suggests that societies in Micronesia, once thought to rely on natural resources and subsistence fishing, actually developed complex agricultural systems, including irrigation terraces that supported freshwater distribution.
Nan Madol flourished between 1100 and 1628 AD, with its decline tied to the fall of the local Saudeleur monarchy in the 17th century. The aerial surveys offer a deeper understanding of the city’s advanced infrastructure during its peak.
Led by Dr. Douglas Comer of the Cultural Site Research and Management (CSRM) Foundation, the research challenges long-held beliefs that formal agricultural systems were absent in Micronesia, pointing to early taro root farming as evidence of agricultural planning.
The international team, including the College of Micronesia, Stanford University, and Sandia National Laboratories, mapped the hidden terraces and irrigation systems. This new data provides a glimpse into the complexity of Nan Madol’s landscape.
The terracing system discovered in Nan Madol shares similarities with Polynesian agricultural systems, such as those in Hawaii and American Samoa. The LiDAR images reflect the complexity of Nan Madol’s landscape, adding to the understanding of Pacific Island agricultural development.