The Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean was settled by the Micronesians more than three thousand years ago.
These early settlers had to make frequent journeys between more than 1,100 islands spread out over 29 coral atolls.
In essence, stick charts are crude maps of the ocean.
Photo credit:Walter Meayers Edwards/National Geographic
The curved sticks show where swells are deflected by an island.
The short, straight strips indicate currents near islands.
The charts were also not used for navigation in the way we use maps or charts today.
The Marshallese had an astounding knowledge of the ocean swells.
Therilibis the strongest of the four ocean swells.
It is generated by the northeast trade winds and is present during the entire year.
Thebungdockerikis present year round as well and arises in the southwest.
This swell is often as strong as therilibin the southern islands.
Thebundockeingswell is the weakest of the four swells, and is mainly felt in the northern islands.
Not everybody knew how to make or read the charts.
This unique piloting system was only known to the outside after 1862 when a resident missionary published a description.
The use of stick charts came to end after World War 2.
The Polynesians still make them but only to sell them as souvenir to tourists.
They also use different materials from those common in other parts of the world.
Such charts depict general information about swell movements around one or more small islands.
Photo credit:marshall.csu.edu.au
Photo credit:thenonist.com
Stick chart with location of various island mapped.
Photo credit:Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
A stick chart displayed in the UKs Science Museum.
Its 69 centimeters square and made of the midribs of palm fronds.
Photo credit: Science Museum/Science & Society Picture Library
Sources:Wikipedia/Smithsonian
