Nan Madol: Ceremonial Centre of Eastern Micronesia

Entangled Histories

This study reveals the intricate entanglement of ethnology, archaeology, and physical anthropology in the Pacific, using Nan Madol—a monumental ceremonial center in eastern Micronesia—as a case study. It demonstrates how German-speaking researchers Jan Kubary, Otto Finsch, and Paul Hambruch, operating between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reached divergent conclusions about Nan Madol's prehistory due to disciplinary biases. Their work reflects broader colonial-era assumptions that linked physical or cultural characteristics to perceived primitiveness, influencing which theories were deemed plausible. The analysis highlights how these disciplines, though distinct, were often practiced in tandem by traveler-naturalists, missionaries, and colonial authorities, shaping the interpretation of Micronesian history.