Chuuk Lagoon, Chuuk State, Federated States Of Micronesia, Pacific Ocean

It is not known when the islands of Chuuk were first settled, but, based on archaeological evidence, these islands had originally been settled more than 2000 years ago. It is not known with certainty where the original inhabitants came from. Based on archaeological evidence, it seems that, after about 200 AD, there was no continuous settlement until about 1300 AD. With further archaeological work, it is possible this gap could be filled in. However, because Chuuk is not high on the archaeological agenda, it is improbable that such a developed study will begin soon. It is probable that people came from Pohnpei and Kosrae to the east, based on many legend and language similarities.
First recorded sighting by Europeans by Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra on board of ship Florida in between August and September of 1528. They were later visited by Spaniard Alonso de Arellano on 15 January 1565 on board of galleon patache San Lucas.
• Colonialism
As part of the colonial territory of the Caroline Islands, Truk was part of the Spanish Empire. The Caroline Islands control were sold to the German Empire in 1899. It became a possession of the Japanese Empire under a mandate from the League of Nations following Germany's defeat in World War I.