Investigating Changes to the Coastal Environment and Coral Reef Habitat in Relation to WWII: War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Exploration-Forward Archaeology Through Community-Driven Research", at the 2024 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The NPS Submerged Resources Center and Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch conducted a joint underwater battlefield survey at War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam in 2023, supported by NOAA OER. The study collected remote sensing data to identify cultural resources relating to the 1944 American invasion of Guam, as well as to assess changes to the coastal environment caused by pre-invasion bombardment and direct reef blasting by Underwater Demolition Teams, building upon the work of Carrell et al. in Peleliu. Blasting of the fringing reef may have long-term implications for the island's coastal vulnerability, depending on recovery to pre-WWII conditions. Coastal impacts may include increased vulnerability; the reduction in reef height and extent may reduce the reef’s ability to dissipate wave energy and alter hydrodynamic conditions that result in erosional hotspots. Maps characterizing seafloor geomorphology were created to better understand hydrodynamic processes influencing the study areas.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2024   •
• Exploration-Forward Archaeology Through Community-Driven Research

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow