Ensemble Tahakia Kamuihei Teiipoka, Archaeological complex in Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia.
Ensemble Tahakia Kamuihei Teiipoka is an archaeological complex on Nuku Hiva comprising three linked zones with stone structures, towering banyan trees, and more than 500 ancient petroglyphs carved into the rock. The site spreads across several hectares and displays remains of ceremonial platforms and ritual pits from pre-contact times.
The site developed as a religious and ceremonial center in pre-European times, showing evidence of a densely populated society in the valley. Scientific excavation work began in recent decades and uncovered the community's complex relationship with the landscape.
Carved stone figures throughout the site depict turtles, fish, and human forms that reflect what ancient residents saw and valued in their daily lives. These carvings served as expressions of ritual and spiritual practice woven into their community.
The site sits in a valley roughly 300 meters from the neighboring Hikokua site and requires protection against mosquitoes for comfortable exploration. Plan to spend several hours wandering through all three zones to take in the details.
A centuries-old banyan tree, estimated at around 600 years, marks the location of a deep ritual pit used for offerings in ancient times. The tree serves as a natural landmark that helps orient visitors as they move through the site.
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