WWII Archaeology pics

[threepdr]

I thought this crowed would appreciate this.

I just got back from several weeks of work at Kwajalein Atoll doing some archaeological monitoring. Unfortunately the workers hit a multiple Japanese burial in the first hole that I monitored. Here are some selected pics from the salvage recovery of this battlefield burial. Most of the pics have captions to give explanations of what is going on.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/572282842mQnHlX

Information

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[Dave]

Why on earth would they be dug up?

[Bob Womack]

It is the desire of many nations that the remains of their soldiers that end up in unmarked, unmanaged graves be repatriated for honor and interment.

Bob

[threepdr]

These were not dug up on purpose. The grave was exposed during infrastructure improvments on the island. We only excavated those remains that were in danger of falling into the ground water of the hole that was dug. We left a lot in place when we backfiled the hole. The untilies that they were excavating for were rerouted to avoid that area.

We hope we can facilitate repatriation of these remains back to Japan.

[smle-man]

Similar subject read of relic hunters searching a late war battle sight in Poland in a swampy area came across the remains of a Soviet soldier that turned out to have been booby trapped with a (fortunately now dud) grenade. The relic hunters didn't know it until the remains were moved. Apparently in Eastern Europe at least until 10 or so years ago many relics and remains were easily found in more remote areas.

[A. F Medic]

No other artifacts were found in the area where you were allowed to search?

I could understand that clothing might rot but any metals should be available. IE like bullets in the individuals or other clothing metal attachments

My first thought was that these individuals were mass buried with just their shoes on. Archaeology was one of my passions in college but I had to set it aside due to the low demand for it in the 60s.

Nice job on the dig and I see everything was treated with reveance and professionalism!

[JB White]

I need to ask....

Was construction halted each time a bone surfaced?

Reason I ask is because about 18 years ago in Chicago, they uncovered a potters field during an excavation for a new college campus. These were the remains of the unidentified following the Chicago Fire.
The construction crews eventually got so disgusted having to constantly sit home for days without pay each time a bone surfaced, they ignored the orders to stop. Instead they either pushed the bones back into the ground or in some cases, a few put them into their toolboxes to take as souvenirs.

Just wondering how it was handled this time around.

[threepdr]

JB,

Much different situation here. All of Kwajalein Island is a National Historic Landmark. We work under a strict set of Army Regs, and host nation laws that protect archaeological resources. Any area that has the potential to have intact sub-surface WWII era deposits is considered to be "sensitive". (Some areas have had so much ground disturbance in post-war years they have little or no intact deposits) All new digging or ground disturbance in sensitive areas now requires an archaeologist to monitor the digging. In this case, when the bones were discovered, all construction activities in that area are stopped and the rerouted to less sensitive areas (if possible).

In another area we found what appeared to be a bomb crater that may have been used as a US 75mm Pack Howitzer firing position. No bones here, but we had the contractor alter the depth of his excavation to prevent further disturbance of this intact layer.

A headache for planners, but little lost time.

[JB White]

Thanks for the comeback and thanks for setting my mind at ease.