Niku IIII (2001): Difference between revisions
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Fieldwork in 2001 had several objectives, explore the 7 site for evidence of the castaway, exploration of the colonial village, scuba survey the shallow water of the reef face along the west end of the island from the landing channel to the NW tip, and scuba survey the northern end of the lagoon for evidence of any wreckage | Fieldwork in 2001 was focused on three locations, at opposite ends of the island. | ||
The Seven Site | |||
The "bones" files found by Peter MacQuarie in the Kiribati National Archives in 1997, and the detailed documentation of the 1940 bones discovery subsequently located in the Western Pacific High Commission archives in England, had led us to take another look at the site cursorily examined in 1996 at the southeast end of the island. Now called the "Seven Site" because of its association with a natural seven-shaped clearing in the scaevola, it had several things to recommend it as the site of the 1940 discovery. | |||
had several objectives, explore the 7 site for evidence of the castaway, exploration of the colonial village, scuba survey the shallow water of the reef face along the west end of the island from the landing channel to the NW tip, and scuba survey the northern end of the lagoon for evidence of any wreckage | |||
Revision as of 00:58, 10 February 2009
Fieldwork 2001
Fieldwork in 2001 was focused on three locations, at opposite ends of the island.
The Seven Site
The "bones" files found by Peter MacQuarie in the Kiribati National Archives in 1997, and the detailed documentation of the 1940 bones discovery subsequently located in the Western Pacific High Commission archives in England, had led us to take another look at the site cursorily examined in 1996 at the southeast end of the island. Now called the "Seven Site" because of its association with a natural seven-shaped clearing in the scaevola, it had several things to recommend it as the site of the 1940 discovery.
had several objectives, explore the 7 site for evidence of the castaway, exploration of the colonial village, scuba survey the shallow water of the reef face along the west end of the island from the landing channel to the NW tip, and scuba survey the northern end of the lagoon for evidence of any wreckage
lots to fill in here, I think Ric probably has some good text
The Satellite Photo
Leading up to the 2001 expedition, TIGHAR was able to obtain a high resolution satellite photo of Nikumaroro that proved to be an excellent research tool for locating specific areas of the island, particularly the 7 site. Upon examination of the area North of the wreck of the Norwich City, a particularly unusual rusty colored area revealed itself, and became a focus of attention and excitement leading up to the expedition.
http://tighar.org/aw/mediawiki/images/5/51/Nikucolor.jpg
GPS Data and the Start of the NIku GIS Project
NIKU IIII was the the first year during which multiple Expedition Team Members brought with them handheld personal GPS units (was it?) . Many waypoints were logged during the trip and collated after the expedition. The data has been overlaid by James Thompson of Select GIS Services onto a copy of the second 2001 Sat photo (post expedition) as you will see below.
http://tighar.org/aw/mediawiki/images/d/d1/GIS_Niku_GPS_Mstr-1.png
And also overlaid onto this outline of the satellite photo.
Results
Links
http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/NikuIIIIsumm.html
http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Bulletins/38_SecretsKnob/knob1.html