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| Pohnpei State Historic Preservation Office | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pohnpei State Historic Preservation Office |
| Headquarters | Kolonia, Pohnpei |
| Region served | Pohnpei State |
| Leader title | Director |
| Parent organization | Pohnpei State Government |
Pohnpei State Historic Preservation Office The Pohnpei State Historic Preservation Office operates as the primary agency for identification, documentation, and protection of cultural resources on Pohnpei State, within the Federated States of Micronesia. It collaborates with regional bodies, international organizations, and local communities to manage archaeological sites, historic structures, and intangible heritage across islands such as Pohnpei (island), Ant Atoll, and Nukuoro Atoll. The office supports compliance with national and international conventions and liaises with institutions including the National Park Service, UNESCO, and the Pacific Islands Forum.
The office's mandate emphasizes inventorying prehistoric and historic sites like the Nan Madol complex and colonial-era landmarks associated with Spanish East Indies, German New Guinea, and Japanese Empire periods. It serves as liaison to the FSM National Government agencies, implements policies under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and contributes to planning processes involving United States Department of the Interior heritage programs. Responsibilities include maintaining registers comparable to the National Register of Historic Places, advising on cultural resource management for projects supported by entities such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The office is typically organized into sections for archaeology, historic preservation planning, architectural surveys, and public outreach. Leadership includes a Director and technical specialists: archaeologists trained in Micronesian field methods, conservators familiar with coral limestone structures, and planners experienced with environmental impact assessments used by the Micronesia Conservation Trust. Staff collaborate with scholars from institutions such as the University of Guam, University of Hawaii, Australian National University, and visiting researchers from the British Museum and Smithsonian Institution. Administrative links exist with the Pohnpei State Legislature and municipal authorities in Kolonia.
Core programs include archaeological fieldwork at paleoenvironmental and settlement sites linked to Lapita culture dispersal, architectural documentation of colonial-era buildings tied to Spanish colonial architecture, and intangible heritage recording like oral histories of chiefs and navigators associated with the Nan Madol society. The office administers cultural resource surveys under environmental programs funded by the Global Environment Facility and implements conservation projects with partners such as Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy. It also supports repatriation dialogues paralleling cases handled by the National Museum of the Philippines and the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Surveys prioritize nationally significant sites including megalithic centers, WWII-era sites linked to the Battle of Pohnpei theaters, and mission-era churches established by the Catholic Church in Micronesia and Congregationalist missionaries. The office compiles inventories that reference comparative monuments across Micronesia such as Lelu, Marae complexes of Tahiti, and colonial fortifications on Saipan. Field methods follow protocols used by the Society for American Archaeology and regional best practices promoted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Funding streams derive from state appropriations, competitive grants from the United States National Endowment for the Humanities, project grants administered by the United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral assistance from partners including Japan International Cooperation Agency and Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Collaborative projects have engaged with NGOs like Heritage Trust of the Pacific Northwest and research grants from the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution’s Pacific collections program. The office also negotiates memoranda of understanding with universities such as University of California, Berkeley and University of Otago for field training and capacity building.
The office enforces state statutes and ordinances that protect sites under the authority of the Pohnpei State Code and interfaces with national heritage legislation in the Federated States of Micronesia Constitution framework. It advises on compliance with international agreements such as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and bilateral cultural property agreements similar to those between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Policy development addresses issues like damage mitigation for infrastructure projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and cultural property protections referenced in protocols from the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Educational initiatives include school curricula collaborations with the College of Micronesia-FSM, community workshops in municipalities like Palikir and Madolenihmw, and cultural festivals celebrating canoe navigation linked to Micronesian navigation traditions. The office partners with faith-based organizations such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Caroline Islands and non-profit groups like Micronesian Conservation to support stewardship programs, public exhibitions in local museums akin to displays at the Yap Living History Museum, and oral history projects modeled after archives at the Bishop Museum. These efforts aim to integrate traditional knowledge holders, clan leaders, and contemporary stakeholders in heritage decision-making.
Category:Pohnpei Category:Historic preservation organizations