The people who live on the remote island of Ponape in the Pacific are simple farmers and fishermen.
There are no cities of any size on the island. However, the ruins of an ancient city suggest that Ponape may once have had a much larger population than it does today.
This city, called Nan-Matal, is located in the most hard-to-get-to part of Ponape. Nan-Matal once boasted a network of canals, a large sea wall to protect the city’s port, and walls 30 feet high that surrounded the city.
The kind of construction used at Nan-Matal is unknown today to the people of the island. Then who built Nan-Matal?
And why were some of the structures there left half finished, as if the builders were forced to flee quickly? So far, these questions remain unanswered.
Related Posts
-
Which Ancient City Was Built On the Site of Modern Day Mexico City and When Was Tenochtitlan Founded?
The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan may have had as many as 400,000 residents when the Spanish explorers first saw it in 1519. It was one of the world's largest cities at the time.…
-
When Was the Ancient City of Alexandria Built and How Was the Largest Library In the Ancient World Destroyed?
Alexandria was built in 332 B.C. by the Greek conqueror Alexander the Great as a center for learning. For 900 years, scholars came to Alexandria to hear lectures from the greatest minds in…
-
How Big Is the Population In Mexico City and Is Mexico City Larger than New York City?
In 2000 the New York City metropolitan area was slightly larger than Mexico city, with 21.1 million people. Mexico City had 18.1 million people in its metropolitan area and was ranked the fourth…
-
Who Built the Taj Mahal In India and Who Was the Taj Mahal Built For?
The love story surrounding the Taj Mahal is true, but certain facts are generally left out. Here's the oft-told romantic tale: Indian mogul Shah Jahan was deeply in love with his one of…
-
How Do People Outgrow Food Allergies and Why Do Many Food Allergies Disappear With Age?
Lots of people outgrow their food allergies. Many people avoid foods to which their allergies are long gone, experts say, and many allergies disappear by the age of four. The reason is not…
-
How is a subway built under a city using the cut and cover method?
The first step is to chart the subway precisely, taking note of all underground utilities, existing subways, foundations, and soil and rock conditions. If the route happens to coincide with the path of…
