Niku IIIIP (1999) - Revision history

Thomas: Copy team members from TIGHAR Tracks article about Niku IIIIP

2012-06-28T01:33:04Z

Copy team members from TIGHAR Tracks article about Niku IIIIP

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:33, 28 June 2012
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	== Team Members ==		== Team Members ==
	* [[Richard Gillespie]] – Executive Director of TIGHAR and leader of the expedition		* [[Richard Gillespie]] – Executive Director of TIGHAR and leader of the expedition
	* [[~~Patricia Thrasher~~]] ~~– President of TIGHAR and expedition photographer~~		* [[Karen R. Burns, Ph.D.]] - TIGHAR #2071E
	* H. Donald Widdoes – TIGHAR #1033CBE
	* Joseph Hudson – TIGHAR #~~1689CE~~
	* [[John Clauss]] – TIGHAR # 0142CE		* [[John Clauss]] – TIGHAR # 0142CE
	* Veryl Fenlason – TIGHAR #0053CE		* Veryl Fenlason – TIGHAR #0053CE
	* [[Russell Matthews]] – TIGHAR #0509CE		* Richard "Skeet" Gifford - TIGHAR #0001CEB
			* [[Van Hunn]] - TIGHAR #1459CE
			* Jerry Ann Jurenka - TIGHAR #0772E
			* Chris Kennedy - TIGHAR #2068E
			* [[Russell Matthews]] – TIGHAR #0509CE
			* Gary Quigg - TIGHAR #1025CE
			* Richard Reynolds - TIGHAR #0981CEB
			* Ronald Rich - TIGHAR #2267E

	<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->		<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->
	[[Category:Expeditions\|Niku 1999]]		[[Category:Expeditions\|Niku 1999]]
	[[Category:Archaeology of Nikumaroro]]		[[Category:Archaeology of Nikumaroro]]

Thomas: italicize ship's name

2011-02-26T18:11:58Z

italicize ship's name

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:11, 26 February 2011
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	In late 1998, we contacted the Archaeology Department of the Fiji Museum, whose Director, Ms. Taresi Vundadilo, enthusiastically championed Museum cooperation with TIGHAR in a search for "the bones in the kanawa wood box." Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala supported the project, and the Museum began contacting government agencies and individuals who might be of assistance. On June 26, 2001, the first two members of the Fiji search party -- Drs. [[Burns\|Karen Burns]] and [[King\|Thomas King]], arrived in Fiji to work with the Museum. Dr. Burns subsequently traveled on to Nikumaroro to employ her forensic expertise in examination of the candidate bones sites, while Education Director [[Barbara Norris]] and researcher [[Kristin Tague]] continued the work.		In late 1998, we contacted the Archaeology Department of the Fiji Museum, whose Director, Ms. Taresi Vundadilo, enthusiastically championed Museum cooperation with TIGHAR in a search for "the bones in the kanawa wood box." Museum Director Kate Vusoniwailala supported the project, and the Museum began contacting government agencies and individuals who might be of assistance. On June 26, 2001, the first two members of the Fiji search party -- Drs. [[Burns\|Karen Burns]] and [[King\|Thomas King]], arrived in Fiji to work with the Museum. Dr. Burns subsequently traveled on to Nikumaroro to employ her forensic expertise in examination of the candidate bones sites, while Education Director [[Barbara Norris]] and researcher [[Kristin Tague]] continued the work.

	Meanwhile on July 1 an eleven-member team under Gillespie's direction left the U.S. to carry out the Nikumaroro reconnaissance. Joined by Dr. Burns, they departed Fiji on July 5 aboard Nai'a, and arrived at Nikumaroro on the evening of July 10.		Meanwhile on July 1 an eleven-member team under Gillespie's direction left the U.S. to carry out the Nikumaroro reconnaissance. Joined by Dr. Burns, they departed Fiji on July 5 aboard ''[[Nai'a]]'', and arrived at Nikumaroro on the evening of July 10.

	==The Fiji Bones Search==		==The Fiji Bones Search==

Moleski: /* Team Members */

2010-12-12T17:06:12Z

Team Members

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:06, 12 December 2010
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	<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->		<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->
	[[Category:Expeditions\|Niku 1999]]		[[Category:Expeditions\|Niku 1999]]
			[[Category:Archaeology of Nikumaroro]]

Moleski: /* Team Members */

2010-06-12T22:01:42Z

Team Members

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:01, 12 June 2010
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	<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->		<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->
	[[Category:Expeditions]]		[[Category:Expeditions\|Niku 1999]]

Moleski at 16:58, 14 October 2009

2009-10-14T16:58:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 14 October 2009
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	~~== Team Members ==~~
	* [[Richard Gillespie]] – Executive Director of TIGHAR and leader of the expedition
	* [[Patricia Thrasher]] – President of TIGHAR and expedition photographer
	* H. Donald Widdoes – TIGHAR #1033CBE
	* Joseph Hudson – TIGHAR #1689CE
	* [[John Clauss]] – TIGHAR # 0142CE
	* Veryl Fenlason – TIGHAR #0053CE
	* [[Russell Matthews]] – TIGHAR #0509CE

	Diplomatic clearance was granted by the Republic of Kiribati and customs official Manikaa Teuatabo (the same representative who accompanied the 1991 expedition) became the eighth member of the team.		Diplomatic clearance was granted by the Republic of Kiribati and customs official Manikaa Teuatabo (the same representative who accompanied the 1991 expedition) became the eighth member of the team.

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	It is also notable that the reconnaissance of the Nutiran reef flat revealed that there is a long, wide, smooth area immediately north of the Norwich City, which at low tide would have made an attractive and usable landing place for an aircraft.		It is also notable that the reconnaissance of the Nutiran reef flat revealed that there is a long, wide, smooth area immediately north of the Norwich City, which at low tide would have made an attractive and usable landing place for an aircraft.

			== Team Members ==
			* [[Richard Gillespie]] – Executive Director of TIGHAR and leader of the expedition
			* [[Patricia Thrasher]] – President of TIGHAR and expedition photographer
			* H. Donald Widdoes – TIGHAR #1033CBE
			* Joseph Hudson – TIGHAR #1689CE
			* [[John Clauss]] – TIGHAR # 0142CE
			* Veryl Fenlason – TIGHAR #0053CE
			* [[Russell Matthews]] – TIGHAR #0509CE

			<!-- Please leave this category marker at the bottom. You may add this article to other categories if you wish -->
			[[Category:Expeditions]]

Moleski at 12:14, 14 October 2009

2009-10-14T12:14:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:14, 14 October 2009
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			== Team Members ==
			* [[Richard Gillespie]] – Executive Director of TIGHAR and leader of the expedition
			* [[Patricia Thrasher]] – President of TIGHAR and expedition photographer
			* H. Donald Widdoes – TIGHAR #1033CBE
			* Joseph Hudson – TIGHAR #1689CE
			* [[John Clauss]] – TIGHAR # 0142CE
			* Veryl Fenlason – TIGHAR #0053CE
			* [[Russell Matthews]] – TIGHAR #0509CE

			Diplomatic clearance was granted by the Republic of Kiribati and customs official Manikaa Teuatabo (the same representative who accompanied the 1991 expedition) became the eighth member of the team.

	==Fieldwork 1999==		==Fieldwork 1999==

Moleski: /* The Fiji Bones Search */

2009-05-11T15:08:56Z

The Fiji Bones Search

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	The [[Fiji Museum]] kindly provided us with office space, telephones, and computers, as well as access to its extensive collections and research library. The Museum also handled coordination with government offices, and three Museum volunteers -- Faiz Ali, Elaitia Vakarau, and Steven Brown assisted in the work. By the time the last member of the team -- Kristin Tague -- returned to the U.S. on July 26th, we had accomplished the following work :		The [[Fiji Museum]] kindly provided us with office space, telephones, and computers, as well as access to its extensive collections and research library. The Museum also handled coordination with government offices, and three Museum volunteers -- Faiz Ali, Elaitia Vakarau, and Steven Brown assisted in the work. By the time the last member of the team -- Kristin Tague -- returned to the U.S. on July 26th, we had accomplished the following work :
	* Inspected the Museum's skeletal collections;		* Inspected the [[Fiji Museum\|Fiji Museum's]] skeletal collections;
	* Inspected the osteological collections of the Anatomy Department at the Fiji School of Medicine, the successor to the Central Medical School;		* Inspected the osteological collections of the Anatomy Department at the [[Fiji School of Medicine]], the successor to the [[Central Medical School]];
	* Inspected a cranium and two femora in a box held by the Suva Masonic Lodge;		* Inspected a cranium and two femora in a box held by the Suva Masonic Lodge;
	* Searched the attic of the old Central Medical School building, now the Dental Clinic at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital;		* Searched the attic of the old [[Central Medical School]] building, now the Dental Clinic at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital;
	* Searched the attic, underfloor, and garage of Dr. Hoodless' former residence, now a student housing office;		* Searched the attic, underfloor, and garage of [[Hoodless\|Dr. Hoodless']] former residence, now a student housing office;
	* Searched tunnels under the hospital complex at Tamavua, to which the Medical School relocated in the 1950s;		* Searched tunnels under the hospital complex at Tamavua, to which the Medical School relocated in the 1950s;
	* Searched the offices of the Fiji Intelligence Service, formerly used by visiting WPHC officers;		* Searched the offices of the Fiji Intelligence Service, formerly used by visiting [[WPHC]] officers;
	* With the kind permission of His Excellency President Ratu Mara, searched the basement of [[Government House]] and the nearby bomb shelter tunnels;		* With the kind permission of His Excellency President Ratu Mara, searched the basement of [[Government House]] and the nearby bomb shelter tunnels;
	* Consulted with government, Hospital, and Medical School officials and building maintenance personnel both about knowledge of the bones and to encourage them to be alert to the possibility of their turning up in the future;		* Consulted with government, Hospital, and Medical School officials and building maintenance personnel both about knowledge of the bones and to encourage them to be alert to the possibility of their turning up in the future;

Moleski: /* The Fiji Bones Search */

2009-05-11T15:02:00Z

The Fiji Bones Search

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:02, 11 May 2009
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	* Conducted archival research at the [[Fiji Museum]] and the [[National Archives of Fiji]];		* Conducted archival research at the [[Fiji Museum]] and the [[National Archives of Fiji]];
	* Consulted with Sir Leonard Usher about Fiji during World War II and the operations of the [[WPHC]];		* Consulted with Sir Leonard Usher about Fiji during World War II and the operations of the [[WPHC]];
	* Consulted with Mr. [[Foua ~~Tofinga~~]], who had been employed in [[Luke\|Sir Harry Luke's]] office in 1940, about the WPHC, bones, sextant box, Gallagher, Vaskess, and other areas of interest (Mr. Tofinga was of particular assistance, and continues to work with us);		* Consulted with Mr. [[Foua Tofiga]], who had been employed in [[Luke\|Sir Harry Luke's]] office in 1940, about the WPHC, bones, sextant box, Gallagher, Vaskess, and other areas of interest (Mr. Tofinga was of particular assistance, and continues to work with us);
	* Through the good offices of Mr. ~~Tofinga~~, interviewed [[Sikuli\| Mrs. Emily Sikuli]], daughter of the Nikumaroro village carpenter in 1940, who reported that she had observed aircraft wreckage on the Nutiran reef north of the Norwich City; and.		* Through the good offices of Mr. Tofiga, interviewed [[Sikuli\| Mrs. Emily Sikuli]], daughter of the Nikumaroro village carpenter in 1940, who reported that she had observed aircraft wreckage on the Nutiran reef north of the Norwich City; and.
	* Through Mrs. Sikuli, interviewed Mrs. Otira O'Brian, another former resident, who had recollections pertaining to bones and aircraft wreckage.		* Through Mrs. Sikuli, interviewed Mrs. Otira O'Brian, another former resident, who had recollections pertaining to bones and aircraft wreckage.

Moleski at 15:01, 11 May 2009

2009-05-11T15:01:38Z

Show changes

Moleski: /* Results */ Emily Sikuli

2009-02-13T04:46:32Z

Results: Emily Sikuli

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:46, 13 February 2009
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	The search in Fiji did not produce the bones, but it provided us with a much clearer understanding of what may have happened to them. They were not to be found in any of the "obvious" locations (Fig. N-42) -- the attic of the old Central Medical School, Dr. Hoodless' residence, the Anatomy Department's collections, the Museum's collections. There are many other old government buildings in Suva, but without any idea which of them might be more likely to contain the bones than any other, it was not practical to continue searching. Instead, a reward was posted for information leading to the bones' recovery, and a special request was made to Government maintenance personnel to be on the lookout for them. One of the most likely-seeming possibilities is that the bones went into one of Suva's many bomb-shelter tunnels during World War II and never came out. Most of these tunnels have been sealed in recent years for safety reasons, and many have doubtless collapsed. It remains possible, however, that the bones are recoverable somewhere in Fiji, or that they were sent to Tarawa, Funafuti, Honiara in the Solomon Islands, or England when the WPHC closed its doors. These and other possibilities are being investigated.		The search in Fiji did not produce the bones, but it provided us with a much clearer understanding of what may have happened to them. They were not to be found in any of the "obvious" locations (Fig. N-42) -- the attic of the old Central Medical School, Dr. Hoodless' residence, the Anatomy Department's collections, the Museum's collections. There are many other old government buildings in Suva, but without any idea which of them might be more likely to contain the bones than any other, it was not practical to continue searching. Instead, a reward was posted for information leading to the bones' recovery, and a special request was made to Government maintenance personnel to be on the lookout for them. One of the most likely-seeming possibilities is that the bones went into one of Suva's many bomb-shelter tunnels during World War II and never came out. Most of these tunnels have been sealed in recent years for safety reasons, and many have doubtless collapsed. It remains possible, however, that the bones are recoverable somewhere in Fiji, or that they were sent to Tarawa, Funafuti, Honiara in the Solomon Islands, or England when the WPHC closed its doors. These and other possibilities are being investigated.
	The Fiji search also put us in touch with a number of people whose information may be invaluable to the project, notably Foua Tofinga, who has first-hand knowledge of the operations of Sir Harry Luke's office during the time the bones were sent in, and who visited Nikumaroro shortly after Gallagher's death. It also introduced us to Emily Sikuli and Otira O'Brian, whose stories have added to our corpus of anecdotal accounts pertinent to the study. Mrs. Sikuli's information, especially, adds to the evidence that the wreck of the Electra may have once been on the Nutiran reef.		The Fiji search also put us in touch with a number of people whose information may be invaluable to the project, notably Foua Tofinga, who has first-hand knowledge of the operations of Sir Harry Luke's office during the time the bones were sent in, and who visited Nikumaroro shortly after Gallagher's death. It also introduced us to [[Emily Sikuli (Tapania Taiki)‎\| Emily Sikuli]] and Otira O'Brian, whose stories have added to our corpus of anecdotal accounts pertinent to the study. Mrs. Sikuli's information, especially, adds to the evidence that the wreck of the Electra may have once been on the Nutiran reef.
	Finally, the Fiji search gave us an opportunity to inspect a number of archival sources, which led to additional sources of data elsewhere, including contacts with Sir Ian Thomson, Sir Harry Luke's Aide-de-Camp, and Sir Harry's own family.		Finally, the Fiji search gave us an opportunity to inspect a number of archival sources, which led to additional sources of data elsewhere, including contacts with Sir Ian Thomson, Sir Harry Luke's Aide-de-Camp, and Sir Harry's own family.
	The Nikumaroro reconnaissance was also superficially disappointing. At the site where something that might have been aircraft wreckage appeared on the 1980s air photos, nothing was found but an oarlock, suggesting that the "thing" imaged in the photos may have been a Norwich City lifeboat. Only one small piece of aircraft aluminum was found, and it was painted with zinc chromate, indicating military origin. Nothing was found on the reef at the point identified by Emily Sikuli. The grave excavated, like the one at Aukaraime, turned out to be that of an infant, and was carefully refilled.		The Nikumaroro reconnaissance was also superficially disappointing. At the site where something that might have been aircraft wreckage appeared on the 1980s air photos, nothing was found but an oarlock, suggesting that the "thing" imaged in the photos may have been a Norwich City lifeboat. Only one small piece of aircraft aluminum was found, and it was painted with zinc chromate, indicating military origin. Nothing was found on the reef at the point identified by Emily Sikuli. The grave excavated, like the one at Aukaraime, turned out to be that of an infant, and was carefully refilled.