In Western Micronesia, archaeological sites containing millennia-old artifacts are rare. Which is why 3,000 year-old pottery, displayed at the Belau National Museum, is such an important find.
A reconstructed ceramic pot, which radiocarbon-dating suggests dates back to 1050 BC, was uncovered from a site at Ulong Island. This may make the Palauan island, which is famous as the spot where Captain Henry Wilson was shipwrecked in 1783, among the oldest archaeological sites in Western Micronesia.
The clay pot is divided into three assemblages, each distinguished by distinct vessel forms. Research conducted in 2002 on Ulong by Dr. Geoffrey Clark of the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, uncovered the shards of pottery and other artifacts. Following studies and the pottery’s reconstruction in Australia, the artifact was returned to Palau on June 20, 2009, and is now a part of the Museum’s collection.
BNM pottery points to Ulong’s ancient history
