Haʻamonga ʻa Maui

Photo

by Tauʻolunga

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Haʻamonga ʻa Maui is an ancient trilithon located on the island of Tongatapu in Tonga. This impressive stone structure, often referred to as the "Burden of Maui," consists of three large coral limestone slabs arranged in a doorway-like formation. Erected around 1200 AD, it is believed to have been constructed during the reign of the 11th Tu'i Tonga, Tuʻitātui. The exact purpose of Haʻamonga ʻa Maui remains a topic of debate among scholars, with theories suggesting it served as a gateway to the royal compound, an astronomical observatory, or a symbol of political power.

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