This year’s travel archaeology class visited sites that spanned the centuries. We went first to Pearl Harbor and then on to ancient Hawaiian village sites with house features that are still visible. Our focus while in the field was to document some of the prehistoric site elements, but Pearl Harbor set the stage for a broad view of Pacific island locations, which were as relevant in prehistory as in the 20th century.
Tour of Pearl Harbor, including a showing of the new film with information about the time leading up to the attack. A motor launch (boat) tour of the harbor followed.
Stone wall separating the ocean from the anchialine ponds behind. Visitors are invited to walk the wall for a short distance. This feature is substantially larger than the original must have been, as one goal in rebuilding this wall was to provide protection for the prehistoric aquaculture ponds just to the east.
Rock gathered from around the site area were used to develop the new wall. Some of the rock had previously been utilized for other purposes.
Participants preparing to document features by first setting compasses and reviewing a task list.
Photo documenting the interior of a house foundation. While vegetation obscured some features, others were still apparent.
Most features were not large, and were placed so that substantial area existed between houses, water catchment areas, etc.
Beginning the documentation process. The focus was both wall and interior features, including palm remains and packed shell floors.
Small pond by a village area far to the south. Salt catchment areas are nearby.
A stacked wall at one site forms a large rectangle around interior features.
One of the smaller features inside a large, partial enclosure.
A newly restored path seen in the middle of this photo leads from one habitation area to another, which is only now being cleared.
One feature leads to another in a huge village to the north. Hawaii Parks is doing a tremendous job of restoring this area.