A review of the rock art of Palau, Micronesia in local and regional contexts

Abstract

The style and iconography of the ten rock art sites known so far in Palau, Micronesia, including two newly discovered rock painting sites, are described and linked to their geographic locations, archaeological associations, oral traditions and local iconographies. Following a brief review of rock art in Micronesia and parts of Island Southeast Asia and New Guinea, Palau's eight rock painting sites and two rock engraving sites are regionally contextualized. We found no apparent relationships with rock art elsewhere in Micronesia but stylistic similarities with eastern Indonesia and West Papua painting traditions are clear. This may suggest the Palau paintings were created early in the archipelago's cultural sequence. Palau's rock paintings are clearly within the Austronesian painting tradition while the single well-recorded carving site does not conform with the Austronesian engraving style. Palau's rock art is also closely aligned to the Oceanic Rock Art Tradition.