Niku III (1997) - Revision history

Tfking106: /* Results */

2011-05-20T01:03:04Z

Results

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:03, 20 May 2011
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	''"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"''		''"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"''

	Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some ~~sixteen~~ meters to the southwest. ~~Twelve to fifteen meters~~ to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.		Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some eight meters to the southwest. About the same distance to the southeast, near a large coral head outcrop, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.

	[[File:Manybarrels.jpg]]		[[File:Manybarrels.jpg]]

Tfking106: /* Results */

2011-05-20T00:59:27Z

Results

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:59, 20 May 2011
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	Laxton describes a typical housesite on Nikumaroro, and elsewhere in Kiribati, as follows:		Laxton describes a typical housesite on Nikumaroro, and elsewhere in Kiribati, as follows:

	''"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made ~~canoesâ€¦~~"''		''"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made canoes"''

	Similarly, Knudson reports that:		Similarly, Knudson reports that:
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	Laxton says:		Laxton says:

	''Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders''		''"Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders."''

	Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.		Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.

Tfking106: /* Results */

2011-05-20T00:57:58Z

Results

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:57, 20 May 2011
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	''"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made canoesâ€¦"''		''"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made canoesâ€¦"''

	Similarly, Knudson reports that:		Similarly, Knudson reports that:

	''"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"''		''"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"''

	Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.		Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.

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	Laxton says:		Laxton says:

	''Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders'' Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.		''Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders''

			Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.

	While we cannot be certain that the site was not occupied earlier, land parcels fifteen and sixteen were apparently parts of the "New" Ritiati Village created as part of Laxton's reorganization of the colony in 1949. They were apparently assigned to settlers already on the island, however, not set aside as leasehold land for the new settlers Laxton intended to bring in from Manra. The small pieces of aluminum were probably exchanged among families engaged in craft work, however, so there is no guarantee that only immigrants from Manra would have aluminum from the known wreck on that island, or that only "old" families would have aluminum from any older wreck that might have been found on Nikumaroro. In addition, of course, travel between Nikumaroro and Kanton Islands provides another source of aircraft aluminum. None of the aluminum pieces on the Manybarrels Site is distinctive enough to be assigned to any particular airplane.		While we cannot be certain that the site was not occupied earlier, land parcels fifteen and sixteen were apparently parts of the "New" Ritiati Village created as part of Laxton's reorganization of the colony in 1949. They were apparently assigned to settlers already on the island, however, not set aside as leasehold land for the new settlers Laxton intended to bring in from Manra. The small pieces of aluminum were probably exchanged among families engaged in craft work, however, so there is no guarantee that only immigrants from Manra would have aluminum from the known wreck on that island, or that only "old" families would have aluminum from any older wreck that might have been found on Nikumaroro. In addition, of course, travel between Nikumaroro and Kanton Islands provides another source of aircraft aluminum. None of the aluminum pieces on the Manybarrels Site is distinctive enough to be assigned to any particular airplane.

Tfking106: /* Results */

2011-05-20T00:56:06Z

Results

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:56, 20 May 2011
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	Laxton describes a typical housesite on Nikumaroro, and elsewhere in Kiribati, as follows:		Laxton describes a typical housesite on Nikumaroro, and elsewhere in Kiribati, as follows:

	"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made canoesâ€¦"		''"A Gilbertese village has three buildings to each bata or household. The sleeping and living quarter fronts the village street; behind it is the eating room, about twelve feet away, and behind again the cookhouse. It would be a poor village indeed which was not scrupulously clean, and Nikumaroro prides itself, and is as good as the best. Forty yards away are the village cone sheds, each household owning at least one of the beautifully made canoesâ€¦"''

	Similarly, Knudson reports that:		Similarly, Knudson reports that:

	"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"		''"The house site comprises a minimum of three buildings: a sleeping house about 15 feet by 18 feet with a floor raised about three or four feet from the ground, a small cookhouse behind the sleeping house and on ground level, and a canoe shed"''

	Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.		Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.

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	Artifacts in the cluster shown in Figure N-36 included a wide range of household items -- a plate, a bucket handle, a tablespoon -- as well as brass and ferrous pipes, flashlight reflectors, an eyeglass frame, and lead weights, probably from fishnets. Most interesting to us was a tangle of cable identical with that found in 1996 -- apparently aircraft control cable -- and two clusters of artifacts near the small rock outcrop. One cluster included a large piece of stainless steel, a flashlight reflector, a copper tube, a battery cable, and a dense rectilinear mass of copper wire identified as the winding off a transformer or electric motor. The second included two large slabs of pearl shell, a red glass bead, and a small rectangular piece of aluminum, apparently Alclad. Nine additional pieces of aluminum were found, most clustered toward the edges of the site. All the aluminum pieces were small and obviously deliberately cut; in essence they appear to be "blanks" cut from larger pieces into convenient sizes for transport and storage until needed in some craft application. It appears that some kind of handicraft production was among the activities carried out in the eating area of the Manybarrels Site.		Artifacts in the cluster shown in Figure N-36 included a wide range of household items -- a plate, a bucket handle, a tablespoon -- as well as brass and ferrous pipes, flashlight reflectors, an eyeglass frame, and lead weights, probably from fishnets. Most interesting to us was a tangle of cable identical with that found in 1996 -- apparently aircraft control cable -- and two clusters of artifacts near the small rock outcrop. One cluster included a large piece of stainless steel, a flashlight reflector, a copper tube, a battery cable, and a dense rectilinear mass of copper wire identified as the winding off a transformer or electric motor. The second included two large slabs of pearl shell, a red glass bead, and a small rectangular piece of aluminum, apparently Alclad. Nine additional pieces of aluminum were found, most clustered toward the edges of the site. All the aluminum pieces were small and obviously deliberately cut; in essence they appear to be "blanks" cut from larger pieces into convenient sizes for transport and storage until needed in some craft application. It appears that some kind of handicraft production was among the activities carried out in the eating area of the Manybarrels Site.

	At the edge of Sir Harry Luke Avenue, eighty meters "down the road" to the southeast of the Manybarrels house site is a steel pipe driven into the ground and set in concrete. A standing coral slab adjoins the pipe perpendicular to the road alignment, with patches of concrete on either side and a loose piece of concrete that has fallen into the road. The numeral "16" is on the northwestern patch and on the loose piece, while the number "17" is inscribed in the southeast patch (Figure N-37).		At the edge of Sir Harry Luke Avenue, eighty meters "down the road" to the southeast of the Manybarrels house site is a steel pipe driven into the ground and set in concrete. A standing coral slab adjoins the pipe perpendicular to the road alignment, with patches of concrete on either side and a loose piece of concrete that has fallen into the road. The numeral "16" is on the northwestern patch and on the loose piece, while the number "17" is inscribed in the southeast patch (Figure N-37).

			[[File:PropertyMarker.jpg]]

			'''Figure N-37 -- Boundary Marker'''

	Laxton says:		Laxton says:

	Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders		''Next day commenced the erection of the boundary marks. We alloted some spoilt cement and damaged piping and old paint from the U.S. radio site stores, title in which had passed to the British government. Old Kirata and assistants cut the pipe into four-foot lengths; the cement was mixed, pits dug under each peg, part filled with clean rubble, the length of pipe driven in erect and its foot bound with cement. A number was given to each land and engraved in the wet cement. Later they returned and filled the engarved numbers with pitch, painted the projecting pipes, topping them with scarlet for gay effect. The completion of this merited another picnic, during which the lines of the plots were carried from lagoon to sea, marked with stones and small boulders'' Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.

	Figure N-38 shows Laxton's sketch-map of land divisions on Ritiati, together with part of his list of landowners. If the Manybarrels' Site was the land parcel numbered sixteen, it would have been the bata of Teng Maraki and Nei Kantaraa. If -- as seems likely given the distance from the house to the marker -- it was parcel fifteen, it was assigned to Teng Banibai and Nei Tebea.

	While we cannot be certain that the site was not occupied earlier, land parcels fifteen and sixteen were apparently parts of the "New" Ritiati Village created as part of Laxton's reorganization of the colony in 1949. They were apparently assigned to settlers already on the island, however, not set aside as leasehold land for the new settlers Laxton intended to bring in from Manra. The small pieces of aluminum were probably exchanged among families engaged in craft work, however, so there is no guarantee that only immigrants from Manra would have aluminum from the known wreck on that island, or that only "old" families would have aluminum from any older wreck that might have been found on Nikumaroro. In addition, of course, travel between Nikumaroro and Kanton Islands provides another source of aircraft aluminum. None of the aluminum pieces on the Manybarrels Site is distinctive enough to be assigned to any particular airplane.		While we cannot be certain that the site was not occupied earlier, land parcels fifteen and sixteen were apparently parts of the "New" Ritiati Village created as part of Laxton's reorganization of the colony in 1949. They were apparently assigned to settlers already on the island, however, not set aside as leasehold land for the new settlers Laxton intended to bring in from Manra. The small pieces of aluminum were probably exchanged among families engaged in craft work, however, so there is no guarantee that only immigrants from Manra would have aluminum from the known wreck on that island, or that only "old" families would have aluminum from any older wreck that might have been found on Nikumaroro. In addition, of course, travel between Nikumaroro and Kanton Islands provides another source of aircraft aluminum. None of the aluminum pieces on the Manybarrels Site is distinctive enough to be assigned to any particular airplane.

Tfking106: /* Results */

2011-05-20T00:51:14Z

Results

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:51, 20 May 2011
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	Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.		Figure N-35 illustrates the spatial organization of the bata represented by the Manybarrels Site. An "L" shaped alignment of coral slabs apparently represents the base of a house that either never had, or has lost, the west and south sides of its platform walls. The house would have been somewhat under four by six meters in size in order to fit within the platform walls. Doubtless, like other Nikumaroro houses, it consisted of four or more upright poles supporting a pitched thatched roof, with woven pandanus frond walls under a meter high. The house fronted on Sir Harry Luke Avenue, some sixteen meters to the southwest. Twelve to fifteen meters to the southeast, the cookhouse was represented by a dense concentration of charcoal and wood ash, with a number of calcined large animal bones, apparently representing pig and turtle.

			[[File:Manybarrels.jpg]]

			'''Figure N-35 -- Manybarrels Site'''

	In this case, then, in contrast with Laxton's and Knudson's perhaps somewhat idealized description, the cookhouse was not behind the house but to the right of it as one faced the house from the road. This placement may be the result of the prevailing wind, which would tend to blow smoke into the sleeping house from a cookhouse placed to the northeast. The eating area probably was behind the house, however, represented by the substantial scatter of artifacts that we recorded there (Fig. N-36). The placement of the two 55-gallon drums included in this cluster, four to five meters apart and aligned with the house platform, suggest that a roofed structure stood here with rain barrels at two of its corners -- probably an open-sided shed where household work could be done protected from rain and sun.		In this case, then, in contrast with Laxton's and Knudson's perhaps somewhat idealized description, the cookhouse was not behind the house but to the right of it as one faced the house from the road. This placement may be the result of the prevailing wind, which would tend to blow smoke into the sleeping house from a cookhouse placed to the northeast. The eating area probably was behind the house, however, represented by the substantial scatter of artifacts that we recorded there (Fig. N-36). The placement of the two 55-gallon drums included in this cluster, four to five meters apart and aligned with the house platform, suggest that a roofed structure stood here with rain barrels at two of its corners -- probably an open-sided shed where household work could be done protected from rain and sun.

Tfking106: /* Aukaraime South */

2011-05-20T00:31:42Z

Aukaraime South

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:31, 20 May 2011
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	[[File:AukaraimeS.jpg]]		[[File:AukaraimeS.jpg]]
			'''Figure N-32 -- Aukaraime South: Areas Intensively Investigated 1997'''


	The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.		The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.

Tfking106: /* Aukaraime South */

2011-05-20T00:28:04Z

Aukaraime South

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:28, 20 May 2011
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	Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.		Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.

	[[~~Image~~:/AukaraimeS.jpg]]		[[File:AukaraimeS.jpg]]

	The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.

			The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.

	== The Lagoon ==		== The Lagoon ==

Tfking106 at 00:17, 20 May 2011

2011-05-20T00:17:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 20 May 2011
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	Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.		Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.

			[[Image:/AukaraimeS.jpg]]

	The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.		The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.

Tfking106 at 23:53, 18 May 2011

2011-05-18T23:53:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:53, 18 May 2011
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	Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.		Datum points used in the 1991 grave excavation and shoe search were relocated, and a permanent datum point established, marked after excavation by a subsurface circle of bottles around an easy-to-find metalic core. From this point two loci were laid out for intensive surface inspection. The "Shoe Locus" included but went well beyond the original shoe discovery site, while the "Psychrometer Locus" encompassed the area where the psychrometer and medicine bottle lid had been found. Both areas were then cleared of coarse surface litter (a considerable undertaking), and blocked off in four-meter squares. Each of these was then carefully inspected on hands and knees, sorting through the fine surface debris with trowels and fingers, and was swept with metal detectors. While this work was underway, both areas were also probed with an electromagnetic sensor, revealing a single apparent anomaly. A 1x2 meter test pit was excavated on this anomaly, in 10 cm. levels, passing the soil through 1/8 inch screen and washing a sample. A second identical unit was then excavated adjacent to the first, with screening reduced to a sample. A series of shovel test pits were then excavated in each of several grids distributed across the area, one of which was expanded to a 1x2 meter test unit when it revealed a concentration of wood ash and charcoal (Fig. N-32). All excavations were backfilled at the close of the project, after being marked with cans and bottles to facilitate their relocation.



	The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.		The area between these two loci and the clear area along the shore of Baureke Passage was also inspected, both along the lagoon shore and for about one hundred meters toward the ocean. Aside from scattered bottles and boards, nothing was found in the interior. Along the shore a series of five short coral "piers" were noted. The first was about forty meters east of our landing place at the lagoon shore of the "shoe site." The next was about forth meters west of the landing place, and the next about forty meters farther west. The fourth was about thirty meters from the third, and the fifth and last was roughly 100 meters from the fourth. Each was about six meters long and a meter wide, made up of coral chunks. Among other possibilities, these may represent fish traps, sand traps to build and protect the shoreline, or walkways to overwater latrines.

Thomas: italicize ship's name

2011-02-26T18:10:01Z

italicize ship's name

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:10, 26 February 2011
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	Finally, the village was chosen for further investigation simply because it was, after all, where we had found all the aircraft fragments during the previous expeditions. Wherever the airplane was, it appeared likely that the colonists had been salvaging pieces from it and taking them to the village. It was possible, then, that we might find the "smoking gun" artifact in the village -- the fragment with a definitive serial number or other identifier linking it unquestionably to the Earhart airplane. More realistically, a larger sample of airplane debris from the village might help us understand what airplanes were producing the pieces the colonists used, and the transformation processes that led such pieces to be part of the village's archeological record. Understanding these processes, we hoped, might give us clues to the original location of the wreckage.		Finally, the village was chosen for further investigation simply because it was, after all, where we had found all the aircraft fragments during the previous expeditions. Wherever the airplane was, it appeared likely that the colonists had been salvaging pieces from it and taking them to the village. It was possible, then, that we might find the "smoking gun" artifact in the village -- the fragment with a definitive serial number or other identifier linking it unquestionably to the Earhart airplane. More realistically, a larger sample of airplane debris from the village might help us understand what airplanes were producing the pieces the colonists used, and the transformation processes that led such pieces to be part of the village's archeological record. Understanding these processes, we hoped, might give us clues to the original location of the wreckage.

	The expedition team of ten, under the direction of Gillespie, departed Suva, Fiji on February 22, 1997, aboard the Nai'a, a 110' ~~motor sailor~~ owned and operated by Nai'a Cruises, Inc. We were accompanied by a three-man documentary crew from ABC Television, under the direction of Producer Howie Masters. We arrived off Nikumaroro on February 27, and after the usual preliminaries began work.		The expedition team of ten, under the direction of Gillespie, departed Suva, Fiji on February 22, 1997, aboard the ''[[Nai'a]]'', a 110' motorsailer owned and operated by Nai'a Cruises, Inc. We were accompanied by a three-man documentary crew from ABC Television, under the direction of Producer Howie Masters. We arrived off Nikumaroro on February 27, and after the usual preliminaries began work.

	This expedition was equipped with Trimble GPS units, and a (DON ELABORATE??) base station that was established near the landing site. With this equipment we hoped both to record the locations of specific sites and features accurately, and to locate Nikumaroro itself more precisely than it had been in the past. Unfortunately, the base station required at least xxx satellite readings to produce an entirely accurate location. After only xxx readings, the onset of Cyclone Hina began to flood the base station and it had to be quickly relocated. Nevertheless, the base station (DON???????)xxxx		This expedition was equipped with Trimble GPS units, and a (DON ELABORATE??) base station that was established near the landing site. With this equipment we hoped both to record the locations of specific sites and features accurately, and to locate Nikumaroro itself more precisely than it had been in the past. Unfortunately, the base station required at least xxx satellite readings to produce an entirely accurate location. After only xxx readings, the onset of Cyclone Hina began to flood the base station and it had to be quickly relocated. Nevertheless, the base station (DON???????)xxxx