Palau's Petroglyphs: Archaeology, oral History and Iconography

Abstract

Obakelderaol is the first certain petroglyph site recorded on Palau, Micronesia. This report provides a description of the rock art and its spatial context. A broad interpretation of its cultural significance and correlated age is provided through the examination of oral history, archaeology, and comparison with Palau's extant traditional iconography. Oral narratives and iconic relationships link the rock art with the last centuries before Western contact. As oral history and artistic interpretation evolve with society, there remains the possibility that the petroglyphs were created long before and that they took on changing texts through the centuries. Show more