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Arorae navigational stones – Te Atibu-ni-Borau

WorldBlue  In short

Unique monuments to the skills of Polynesian seafaring are the Arorae navigational stones.

3.6 out of 10 stars 36.3%

GPS coordinates
2.6137 S 176.7918 E
Location, address
Australia and Oceania, Micronesia, Kiribati, Gilbert Islands, northern tip of Arorae Atoll
Lighthouses, Megaliths
Alternate name
Te Atibu-ni-Borau, the compass stones of Arorae. The island has several names – Arorai, Arurai, Hope, Hurd
Age
Around 1000 – 1500 AD
Culture
Polynesians

Map of the site

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WorldYellow In detail

Arorae Atoll

Arorae is the southernmost of the Gilbert Islands. Although this island is called an atoll, it is not a classical ring-shaped island with a lagoon in the middle. This island is 9 km long, its area is 9.5 km². The nearest landmass is the small Tamana Island located 88 km to the northwest.

Standing stones

In the northern tip of the island is a group of standing stones – flat slabs of coral stone, set on the rim and fastened with stone pavement around them.

Captain E.V.Ward sketched the stones in 1946 (2.). There were 14 stones in total.

The largest was the entrance stone, others were stones used for orientation. In the 1940s 11 stones were in their original locations. In 1957 there were found less – 8.

Stone slabs are approximately 1.5 -1.2 m wide and tall and some 15 cm thick.

Stones are located among the trees and the sea is not visible from here. But in earlier times this could be different – the island has extended northwards over the last centuries.

Signs to the nearby islands

It can be said with certainty that ancient Polynesians erected these stones as a sign pointing towards the nearest islands. Locals now call them Te Atibu-ni-Borau – the stones for voyages.

It is considered that in the afternoon people went with canoe near these stones and were guided by some helpers to take the exact position pointing away from Arorae towards the desired destination. Soon the stars appeared and seafarers could orientate by them. After 12 hours, when the sun went up, they were near the neighboring islands.

A local man in 1946 told to Captain Ward, that his father knew how to use them. Even more – another informant told that the stones were erected in their father’s lifetime – e.g. in the late 19th century. Other stories though mention that these stones were standing well before the coming of Europeans.

Only on Butaritari Island in the northern part of Gilbert Islands is known a similar monument.

Where do you want to go?

The stones in Arorae point to the following islands:

  • A pair of stone plates points to the nearest island – the 88 km far Tamana Island.
  • One (possibly earlier there were two) stones point to the open sea. Maybe they show the way to the 720 km far Banaba?
  • One stone points to the 120 km far Nikunau.
  • Next to it stands one, which points to the 140 km far Beru.
  • One (maybe there were two in the past) stone points towards Onotoa, 137 km far.
  • Two stones point seem to point again towards the 88 km far Tamana Island. Ward mentions the 1250 km far Orona in opposite direction but this seems way too far.
  • A pair of stones points towards the south-west, no land is there for more than 1200 km.

Limits of the system

This certainly was not an exact and safe navigational system. For example – stones are shifted by 5° from the exact position – most likely to decrease the mistake created by the equatorial current.

If the current was faster or slower or there was a wind, the canoes would sheer away and get lost in the Pacific. The distance of 80 – 140 km might be the maximum where such navigational aid can be of any assistance.

It is also not clear how the seafarers found a way home.

References

  1. Hilder, Brett. Polynesian Navigational Stones. Journal of Navigation, 1959., 12., pp 90 – 97.
  2. Lewis, David. We, The Navigators. The Ancient Art of Landfinding in the Pacific. 1994.
  3. Resture, Jane, The Famous Arorae Navigation Stones. Accessed 08.11.11. Image!

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