HPO produces book of historic sites

Archaeological and historical sites of the Northern Mariana Islands come to life in the new full-color publication Historic and Cultural Sites of the CNMI: The National Register Sites from the CNMI Division of Historic Preservation.

The 46-page book provides on overview and photos of 33 of the 35 signature sites that the CNMI has listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

“HPO is pleased to add another publication to its list of reference materials that discuss the prehistory and historical periods of the Northern Mariana Islands and its people,” said HPO Director Epiphanio E. Cabrera Jr. “This latest production authored by our staff historian is perfect for students of NMI history, residents, and visitors, alike.”

The sites documented in the book provide significant data about the pre-European contact periods, as well as insights to colonial and post-colonial chronology. As such, they were deemed worthy for nomination to the National Register where they were reviewed according to qualifying criteria and accepted to the Register.

“Public access to a majority of these National Register sites is either restricted or extremely limited, which makes this publication all the more important for public education,” said historian and author Genevieve S. Cabrera. “This publication is intended as a reference resource and not a literal ‘guidebook’ to the sites indicated as some of the sites are situated on private property. Equally important is the fact that because of their significance, the features contained within these sites must be kept intact in order for future studies to be able to extract correct, untainted data.”

When a site is accessed improperly and its elements tampered, the integrity of the archaeological and/or historical data is compromised. Analysis of this kind of data leads to erroneous information resulting in misinterpretation and misrepresentation of what the site entails, according to Cabrera.

Several more widely known and publicly accessible sites like Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, and Mañagaha Island are included in the book. Cabrera was assisted by HPO field staff and program coordinators on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota for the preparation of the sites prior to writing. The research material utilized for the publication came from scholars and community elders.

“This is yet another example of HPO’s partnership efforts to “preserve the past for the future,” said Cabrera.

The book will be made available in English, Japanese, and Korean. English copies have been printed. Copies in Japanese and Korean will soon follow. Inquiries regarding the publication should be directed to the HPO by calling 670-664-2120 or visiting their office on Chalan Tun Herman Pan Road near the Saipan International Airport.

HPO is a division of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs. (PR)