Two Nikumaroro-related sites

[Al Leonard]

Hello,
This post will not help solve the mystery of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart but readers of the forum may find them interesting nevertheless.

http://pipa.neaq.org/2009/09/searching-for-invasive-species-on.php

http://www.newswise.com/articles/pacific-islands-paradise-protected

Enjoy!

Alf

[Gus Rubio]

From the second article:

Three New England Aquarium research expeditions since 2000 found great marine biodiversity, including more than 120 species of coral and 520 species of fish, some new to science. Nesting seabird populations, as well as healthy fish populations and the presence of sea turtles and other species, demonstrated the pristine nature of the area and its importance as a migration route.

A couple of thoughts come to mind:
1- I imagine they must have done some undersea investigation to determine what species live in the reefs and on the islands themselves.  I wonder if they would have images or video of the Niku terrain, both land and undersea, that might be worth looking at.
2- I hope they haven't inadvertantly trampled or "cleaned up" any possible AE/FN flotsam that may have been around, as yet unseen by TIGHAR.

Welcome Alf.  Keep in mind, nobody knows by whom or how this mystery may be conclusively solved one day...


-Gus

[Greg Daspit]

Thanks for posting the link Alf
I found this interesting
"We explored a small portion of the island, found old village structures, including a sunken room with coral walls that Tukabu said was perhaps an ancient marea, a place of worsiop"

I wonder if the "sunken room" could have been for colonist water and not "ancient" if it was in the village?

[Chris Johnson]

Thanks for posting the link Alf
I found this interesting
"We explored a small portion of the island, found old village structures, including a sunken room with coral walls that Tukabu said was perhaps an ancient marea, a place of worsiop"

I wonder if the "sunken room" could have been for colonist water and not "ancient" if it was in the village?

I think they were mistaken and infact they were these (from Ameliapedia)

The mwenga's economy was naturally grounded in the resources controlled by its inhabitants. Major subsistence resources included the lands of mwenga members, and the sections of babae pits that they controlled. The mwenga's male members performed agricultural tasks, including the care of coconuts, pandanus, and babae. Babae plants were grown in large pits dug down to the level of the fresh-water lens. A humus of leaves and grasses was placed around the growing shoots, sometimes packed in and retained by a basket-like container woven of coconut leaves. The tubers took three to four years to reach useful size; since the pit area for growing it was limited, babai was rarely eaten except on special occasions. It was considered to be indicative of the best of hospitality to be served babai when visiting in the house of another.