Star Mound, 2015
Stone: Stoney gold (local)
The term “star” or “cog mound” has generally been taken to designate any mound that is composed of rock or earthen fill and which usually has a stone facing of anywhere from one to about 14 courses high. There are over 300 star mounds recorded in Samoa and archaeologists suspect there are many more yet to be discovered. The oldest mounds tested so far were constructed between 700 AD to 1100 AD, 900 years ago. Samoan mythology and cultural expressions reference the ritual of pigeon-catching (a chieftain sport) on the mounds along with ceremonies and magical rituals to cure illnesses.
