Ancient Tongan City Hints at Civilisation in the Pacific 700 Years Earlier

The city is easily the oldest discovered to date throughout the South Pacific, with archeologists saying between 6,700 and 7,600 people lived at the site.

Site of the ancient Tongan city of Mu'a Courtesy of Phillip Parton/Australian National University

Archeologists from Australia have made a remarkable discovery of a previously unknown ancient city in the Kingdom of Tonga, which challenges the historical narrative surrounding settlement in the Pacific Islands.

Australian National University study author Phillip Parton, along with archaeologist Geoffrey Clark, estimated the “earth structures” were built in Tongatapu—the largest island in the country—around 300 AD.