Archaeological Monitoring and Sampling Operations during Ordinance and Explosive Removal at Bellows Air Force Station, Waimanalo, Koolaupoko District, Oahu Island, Hawai’i

Summary

Four main archaeological tasks were completed during the intermittent multi-year project: monitoring vegetation clearance, completely surveying the project area, monitoring ordnance removal, and subsurface testing along the eastern coastline.

The results of monitoring, survey, and testing were minimal. Several previously recorded military structures and modem debris were identified in most portions of the project area. During monitoring, several small caches of commingled, disarticulated human and fauna! remains were identified on a sandy surface near the eastern flank of the project area. All the remains were sun-bleached and represented secondary-tertiary deposits. The three total human skeletal fragments are currently in the legal and physical custody of Hui Malama I Na Kapuna O Hawaii Nei, per compliance with NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act). During testing, fifteen test units were excavated along the eastern coastline of the project area and only yielded ten very small, disarticulated mammalian fragments. These non-human remains also occurred in secondary or tertiary context.

Beyond the recovery of three human remains fragments, no significant resources were identified in the project area. The minimal results of this project were likely due to massive landscape modifications to the surface of the Bellows Air Force Station as well as the location of the project area itself in terms of traditional Native Hawaiian settlement patterns. As only a minimal portion of the project area was subject to subsurface investigation, it remains a possibility that archaeological sites related to prehistoric-historic habitation, work stations, and/or burials may occur in subsurface contexts within the project area. Future construction in the area should be closely monitored by a qualified archaeologist for the presence of such resources.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Department of the Air Force Cultural Resources Archive

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Bellows Air Force Station

Field Director(s): Guerin Tome

Principal Investigator(s): Michael F. Dega

Repository(s): Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Pacific Division

Prepared By(s): Scientific Consultant Services, Inc.

Submitted To(s): U.S. Army Engineer District, Corps of Engineers, Fort Shafter

Record Identifiers

Delivery Order Number(s): 0038

Contract(s): DACA83-95-D-0004

File Information