Fiscal Year 2012 Rehabilitation and Conservation Project Report - Olsechall Ra Ruchel (Stone Platform) B:NG-1:2, Angaur State, Republic of Palau

From the Report: "As a contractor for the development, restoration, maintenance, interpretation and preservation of a historically known as Olsechall ra Ruchel. I am very happy to report that the project has been successfully completed. We were able to restore fallen rocks of the platform to its original places, removing eroded soils that have covered some rocks on the platform, remove dirt and soil to expose all rocks on top of the platform, remove dirt and soil to expose all rocks on top of the platform and reveal its original structures. Particularly, the most significant part of the project was the restoration of the platform. Unfortunately, after the completion of the project, Palau was hit by another super typhoon in 2013 that damaged the site. The Angaur State Government in 2014 was facing its state elections however the incumbent governor promised to restore the site if she wins the election. Unfortunately, the incumbent governor lost the election therefore the new incoming governor needs to pick up the restoration of the site. The Olsechall ra Ruchel is a stone platform on a rocky ridge in Ngebeanged region. The site is listed in the Palau Register of Historic Places (1998). The site is also known as Olsechall ra Rubak. The site has two intact stone platforms. According to an informant, there were several monoliths standing on the corners of the stone platform. According to oral tradition, the site was where the traditional council (klobak) of Palau began. This site is significant in that this was the place where the Uchel came to and organized the traditional government of Belau and gave out the basic principles of the whispered policies. The site is significant to the cultural history of Angaur as well as the whole of Palau because it is where the gods descended and from there, all the tiles and the whispered policies were distributed. Kelulau (whispered policies) and the titles, kebekuul or the first four and the teleuchelel a dui, the fifth to the tenth are the basis on which each of the traditional communities of Palau is governed or operates. The gods sanctified all the titles and the kelulau and gave them to all the entities of Palau as guidelines in the governance of each community." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Palau Historic Preservation Office, Bureau of Arts and Culture, Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, administered by the Pacific West Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number 70-12-41964).

Fiscal Year 2012 Rehabilitation and Conservation Project Report - Olsechall Ra Ruchel (Stone Platform) B:NG-1:2, Angaur State, Republic of Palau

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