Tonga - The Ancient Capitals of the Kingdom of Tonga

The property consists of two archaeological sites:- Ha'amonga ‘a Mau'i Historic Park at Heketā near Niutoua; Ancient Royal Tombs at Lapaha in the village of Mu'a Ha'amonga ‘a Mau'i Historic Park According to oral traditions which have subsequently been recorded, the Tu'i Tonga Empire is said to have been formed around the year 950AD. The first Tu'i Tonga (‘Aho'eitu) located his capital (first capital) at the village of Toloa on the island of Tongatapu. The Ha'amonga ‘a Mau'i Historic Park is the site of the second capital of Ancient Tonga known as Heketā (Royal Compound), having been relocated from Toloa by the 10th Tui Tonga (Momo) in the 10th Century. It is located at the eastern tip of Tongatapu near the villages of Niutoua and Afa, and looks towards the northeast of the celestial plain. The name of the site is derived from the famous Polynesian God, Maui. Ancient Royal Tombs of Lapaha in the village of Mu'a The village of Mu'a, about 12 kilometres from the current capital, Nuku'alofa, is the site of the third capital of Ancient Tonga, having been relocated from the Heketa-Ha'amonga area around the 13th Century until the 19th Century. It is located in the eastern district of Tongatapu. Lapaha, which is situated at the north-eastern part of Mu'a, is said to have been the permanent home and centre of chiefly power of the Tu'i Tonga. It is also famous for being the geographic centre of the Tongan maritime chiefdom during the reign of Tu'i Tongas from the 13th to the 19th Centuries. Of relevance for this submission, however, is the 22 (estimated) ancient royal tombs (or langis) that can be found in this area (sketch map attached of positioning of tombs), spread over an estimated 400 x 500 square metres of land where Tu'i Tongas were buried.