History of Tonga

The history of Tonga is recorded since the century after 900 BC, when seafarers associated with the Lapita diaspora first settled the islands which now make up the Kingdom of Tonga. Along with Fiji and Samoa, the area served as a gateway into the rest of the Pacific region known as Polynesia. Ancient Tongan mythologies recorded by early European explorers report the islands of 'Ata and Tongatapu as the first islands having been hauled to the surface from the deep ocean by Maui.
Pre-contact
The dates of the initial settlement of Tonga are still subject to debate; nonetheless, one of the oldest occupied sites is found in the village of Pea on Tongatapu. Radiocarbon dating of a shell found at the site reportedly dates the occupation at 3180 ± 100 BP . Some of the oldest sites pertaining to the first occupants of the Tongan Islands are found on Tongatapu which is also where the first Lapita ceramics were found by WC McKern in 1921. Nonetheless, reaching the Tongan islands was a remarkable feat accomplished by the Lapita peoples. Not much is known about Tonga before European contact because of the lack of a writing system during prehistoric times other than the oral history told to the early European explorers. The first time the Tongan people encountered Europeans was in April 1616 when Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten made a short visit to the islands to trade with them.

[@valherustinger7848]

If you want to know about Tongan History from first hand accounts of an english man read William Mariners - an Account of the Natives (Savages) of the Tonga Islands.

[@niceguy7002]

Thank you for this upload.

[@kiteprema2240]

Yes Tongan the heart of the pacific ❤

[@kasikauvaka6845]

I’m a little bummed out that the history before Christianity reached our homeland is not familiarized with the U.S. Tongans. I find that Tonga believing in multiple deities way more interesting

[@elaonaniumeitolu8402]

yes I am interested to find out the settlements of the Tu'i tonga since 'Ahoeitu to Momo the 10th Tu'i Tonga

[@tiaaug283]

Do you guys not see a Samoan picture with the Taupo wearing her Samoan Tuiga…🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏾‍♂️

[@peniaminatanaki1150]

Would you know if Dr Opeti Taliai has completed his History of Tonga project/book?

[@tupouakau673]

How our passport were created in 1777 and the first settle of Ma'ufanga up to today.

[@amandamalunghau1954]

your father determines your seed line not your mother

[@taumafakavatuitonga4285]

Nukuleka in Tongatapu is the oldest Lapita site in Polynesia that was discovered by Dr.Burley in 2008.

[@usoasouma1060]

SAMOA ATOA!!!! 😘

[@aisakeliu8461]

Yeah Tonga people from Africa,

[@94.._-_]

No horses ??!

[@lesblase3667]

BS