Taputapuatea marae, Ancient ceremonial site in Raiatea, French Polynesia

Taputapuatea marae is a stone complex at the end of a peninsula jutting into the lagoon at Opoa, on the eastern coast of Raiatea. Its centre is a rectangular courtyard paved with basalt, 44 by 60 metres, with the ahu, a basalt and coral platform for ceremonies, at its east end. Other marae stand within the complex, including marae Hauviri, used for the naming of chiefs.

The marae may have been founded as early as AD 1000 and was expanded and rebuilt at least twice between the 14th and 18th centuries. Around 1763 warriors from Bora Bora attacked Raiatea, wrecking the platform and cutting down the sheltering trees. Missionaries arrived in the early 19th century and the complex was abandoned soon after. Its archaeological remains were restored in 1994.

The site served as a major gathering place where priests and navigators from across Polynesia came to share knowledge and spiritual practices. People traveled from distant islands to receive training in both religious traditions and seafaring skills.

Joining a guided tour helps visitors understand the stone structures and their historical context better. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, as the site sits in an exposed outdoor area with little shade.

The white rock Te Papatea-o-Ru'ea, now part of marae Hauviri, was where the chiefs of Ra'iatea were invested with the red feather girdle maro 'ura. The image of the god kept there, 'Oro-maro-'ura, stood about three feet high and took its name from that same girdle.