‘Ancient’ bones found at construction site
By Cassandra Hamman
Special to the Saipan Tribune
Bones that are believed to date back to the Latte period have been found at a construction site on Beach Road next to Hakubotan Duty Free shop last week.
Although they are still being examined and carbon dated as to their exact age, the CNMI Division of Historic Preservation believes they are ancient as other Latte period remains have also been dug up in the area before.
The Latte period (854-145 years A.D.) is called such due to its association with the construction of Latte Stone structures.
“This is a highly sensitive area,” said Epiphanio E. Cabrera, director of the CNMI Division of Historic Preservation. “It [the area] has been on standstill for six or seven months.”
According to Cabrera, the lessor of the property, Chong Won Don, initially did not want to pay for an archeologist who will supervise the digging “so the project dragged on and on.”
“Due to the financial state of the CNMI, people don’t want to pay [for the hiring of an archeologist], but it’s important. I’m happy she [Chong] finally agreed to pay.” The law requires an archeologist to be present when digging in the area due to the commonality of historical relics.
Pottery shards were also found in the same area. Cabrera said this is a common discovery in this particular section of Beach Road.
The bones were sent to Guam for charcoal sampling and carbon dating. The results will not be available for about three months. The analysis will give the most important information on the exact age of the bones.
Sandra L. Yee from the International Archaeological Research Institute Inc. is the archeologist working on this project. She did not comment on the current state of the artifacts.
Cabrera also invited two new trainees at DHP to work on the site to gain knowledge and put them out in the field for a hands-on experience.
“The purpose is for us to gain information about that area for the benefit of future generations,” he said.
The site is now covered with a foundation and will eventually be a commercial building.
