Links between climatic histories and the rise and fall of a Pacific chiefdom
Journal
PNAS Nexus
Journal Volume
3
Journal Issue
10
ISSN
2752-6542
Date Issued
2024-10-01
Author(s)
Beardsley, Felicia
Gong, Shou-Yeh
Kataoka, Osamu
Yoneda, Minoru
Yokoyama, Yusuke
Hu, Hsun-Ming
Huang, Chun-Yuan
Liu, Sze-Chieh
Chiang, Hong-Wei
Wei, Hsin-Lin
Chung, Yun-Chuan
Jiang, Leilei
Lin, Albert Yu-Min
Fox, James
David, Mordain
Lebehn, Jason
Barnabas, Jason
Kohler, Gus
Richards, Zoe T
Hobbs, Jean-Paul A
McCoy, Mark D
Editor(s)
Milner, George
Abstract
Sea level rise and climate change are shaping present societies, particularly those on oceanic islands. Few historical examples could serve as references for these changes. One such potential model is the Saudeleur Dynasty with its capital Nan Madol on the Pacific Island of Pohnpei. However, the timing of its construction, as well as the dynasty's fluctuations and potential environmental influences, has remained unresolved. Through the analyses of 230Th ages on 171 dates on corals fragments used as building materials and charcoal 14C ages from excavations, 2 major construction phases spanning from the 10th to the 15th century CE can be discerned. The results show that the first phase of the site's construction, spanning the 10th-12th century, marked the dynasty's rise. The second period, spanning from the late 12th to the early 15th century, provides the most substantial evidence for the demise of the island-scale chiefdom and a significant societal reorganization. The phases are centuries earlier than previously believed. With this new evidence, we propose the hypothesis that variations in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and subsidence-related sea level rise presented major challenges for building and maintaining Nan Madol, and thus, influenced the course of the island's history. This case serves as a compelling example of how adverse climatic conditions can spur investments - in this case, in seawater defense under high sea levels - yet ultimately may contribute to abandonment. It offers lessons for island nations, showcasing coastal resilience in the face of worsening catastrophic events that unfolded over generations.
Subjects
coral 230Th dating
ENSO
Nan Madol
Saudeleur Dynasty
subsidence-induced sea level rise
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Type
journal article