Chief Roi Mata's Domain
Chief Roi Mata's Domain is Vanuatu's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is obviously one of the most famous historical sites in Vanuatu. This place consists of three early 17th century AD sites on the islands of Efate, Lelepa, and Artok connected to the life and death of what is now Central Vanuatu's final paramount chief, Roi Mata. Roi Mata's mansion, the place of his death, and Roi Mata's mass burial site are all on the property. It's linked to the chief's oral traditions and the moral principles he promoted. The site exemplifies the fusion of oral tradition and archaeology, and it attests to Roi Mata's social reforms and conflict resolution, which are still relevant to the people of the region.
The validity of Chief Roi Mata's Domain is based on the landscape's continued identification with Roi Mata's oral traditions, the continuation of chiefly systems of authority, and customary respect for the tangible traces of his life, as evidenced by the ongoing tabu bans on specific locations.
Visitors to the UNESCO site can take cultural tours led by villagers living on the outskirts of the monument. This not only provides cash to the local populations, but it also educates tourists about the area's culture and history. Visitors can study about Chief Roi Mata at the Vanuatu National Museum and Cultural Center. Tourists can drive north of the city to view the domain's terrain, which includes beaches and the cave where he is said to have died. The burial place can be seen from these beaches. Because the area is largely underdeveloped, services such as locally made food, beach bungalows, and open boats are limited.
Location: Port Vila
