Palau

Yapease Quarry Sites

WHS Score 0.0 Votes 1
Yapease Quarry Sites is a transnational proposal consisting of two mines in Palau where a megalithic currency—the world’s largest—was quarried, and two sites on the island of Yap in Micronesia associated with the use of the currency. The two quarries in Palau, Uet el Daob ma Uet el Beluu and Chelechol ra Orrak, are located on the limestone island of Korak, just offshore from the southern coast of Palau, and were begun in the 19th century after the Yapese earned the right to quarry in Palau through bartering and the formation of alliances with villages in Palau. The quarries contain rock carvings and artifacts, including completed and unfinished disks, demonstrating how the stone money was formed, as well as human remains dating to more than 3000 years in the past.
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Full Name
Yapease Quarry Sites (ID: 1932)
Country
Palau
Status
On tentative list 2004 Site history
History of Yapease Quarry Sites
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UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
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UNESCO.org

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First published: 06/01/17.

Els Slots

Yapease Quarry Sites

Yapease Quarry Sites (On tentative list)

Yapease Quarry Sites by Els Slots

Palau’s best chance of a second WHS is the serial transnational nomination of the Yapese Disk Money Regional Sites / Yapese Quarry Sites. This collection of 4 locations in two countries has already been brought forward in 2010, but ended up with a Deferral advice from ICOMOS and a subsequent withdrawal of the nomination by the Federated States of Micronesia (representing Yap) and Palau. They will try again in (possibly) 2018.

Orrak Island with overgrown causeway

Palau played an important role in the origin and practice of the use of stone disk money on Yap. Although the island state lies almost 500km away, with its fine limestone it provided the source for producing the large disks that were used on Yap as stone money. In 1883 it was reported by judicial commissioner G.R. Le Hunte that he found around 100 Yapese at Palau cutting stones and preparing them for transport.

The two locations on Palau included in the original nomination are called ‘Uet el Doab ma Uet el Beluu’ and ‘Chelechol ra Orrak’. After the discussion we recently had on the Forum and some further research, I’m quite sure that both are located on the island of Orrak (the former in the interior, the latter near the beach). I found the original ICOMOS evaluation of 2010, which sheds further light on the boundaries of this nomination. The locations on Orrak Island are both quarry sites.

Approach to Airai

Orrak is a tiny island, which was connected to Airai Village in …

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First published: 15/12/16.

Stanislaw Warwas

Yapease Quarry Sites

Yapease Quarry Sites (On tentative list)

Yapease Quarry Sites by Stanislaw Warwas

Visited in November 2016.

I reached only one site from Yapese Stone Money Quarr - Chelechol ra Orrak, they call it Metuker er a Bisech. The site is located in a small island belonging to Airai State. At the time I was there, only one tourist agent was organizing 2-hour trip to the site (it could be shorter or longer depending of your climbing skills). I do not remember their name, but it is easy to find them because the office is located just under the big bridge connecting Koror to Babeldaob (the big island); it'll be on your left hand side when you drive from Koror - just cross the bridge and then make a U-turn, choosing the road that goes under the bridge; this is the last building on your right now.

You will hear that at least two people are needed to organize a boat for that trip, but if you insist and show how much you'd love to see "this unique Palauan treasure" they do it only for you. That's what happen to me; we agreed the day, the time. The price is fix: 35 USD for the trip plus 25 USD for kind of a permit to visit historical places in Airai state. If you have paid it already in Airai State Office, you'll just have to pay only for the tour.

After 25 minutes boat trip you land at a provisional harbour, and then you have to climb up for another 20 minutes. The …

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