Thundu Kunaa Documentation Project: Preserving the Weaving Tradition of Gadhdhoo

The Maldives Anthropological Society (MAS) announces the commencement of a field research initiative dedicated to Thundu Kunaa—the finely woven rush mats of Huvadhoo Atoll, historically regarded as one of the most refined forms of material craftsmanship in the Maldives.

Produced primarily in Gadhdhoo, these mats are not merely utilitarian objects. They embody a highly developed system of geometric design, natural dye knowledge, and intergenerational skill, closely tied to island identity and social history. As environmental pressures and socio-economic change reshape island life, the continuity of this knowledge system is increasingly at risk.

The Thundu Kunaa Documentation Project responds to this urgency through an integrated ethnographic and visual research approach, aimed at creating a long-term archival record of the craft in its full cultural and material context.

Project Overview

Fieldwork is currently underway in Gadhdhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. The project adopts a multidisciplinary methodology, combining ethnographic fieldwork, material culture analysis, and cinematic documentation to capture both the technical processes and the lived realities of practitioners.

Core Research Areas

Ethnographic Documentation
Recording the lived experiences, social roles, and knowledge systems of master weavers within the community.

Material Culture Analysis
Examining the structure and meaning of traditional patterns, alongside the preparation and use of kunaa hau and plant-based dyes, including the botanical identification of the raw material.

Oral History
Tracing the historical trajectory of Thundu Kunaa, from its role within royal tribute and taxation systems to its place in contemporary island economies.

Cinematic Documentation
Developing a high-resolution visual archive using a structured shot methodology to document the tactile, rhythmic, and sensory dimensions of the weaving process.

Access & Contribution

MAS is committed to building a publicly accessible archive of Maldivian material culture. Researchers, collaborators, and community members interested in contributing to or accessing the project are encouraged to contact the MAS research desk.

Photos: Annagrethee Ottovar & Nils Finn Munch-Petersen, Gadhdhoo, 1977

Project Partners

The Thundu Kunaa Documentation Project is supported by The Residence Maldives and carried out in collaboration with the Gadhdhoo Council.