Navigation chart

Navigation chart. Marshall Islands, Micronesia. 19th to early 20th century C.E. Wood and fiber.

• The Marshall Islands in eastern Micronesia consist of thirty-four coral atolls consisting of more than one thousand islands and islets spread out across an area of several hundred miles.
• In order to maintain links between the islands, the Marshall Islanders built seafaring canoes. These vessels were both quick and maneuverable.
• In order to determine a system of piloting and navigation the islanders devised charts that marked not only the locations of the islands, but their knowledge of the swell and wave patterns as well. The charts were composed of wooden sticks; the horizontal and vertical sticks act as supports, while diagonal and curved ones represent wave swells. 
• Cowrie or other small shells represent the position of the islands. 
• The information was memorized and the charts would not be carried on voyages.