aRCHAEOLOGICAL sTUDIES
Developing a lot on the Big Island of Hawai’i, or any location with significant cultural or historical relevance, could potentially involve archaeological studies. The purpose of these studies is to protect and preserve any significant artifacts, structures, or features that might be on the property, which may contribute to the understanding of the area’s history and cultural heritage.
In Hawai’i, the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is typically responsible for managing and preserving archaeological sites. As such, any development project would likely need to work closely with this agency to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Why Are Archaeological studies Important Here on the Big Island?
Archaeological studies are important on the Big Island of Hawaii for several key reasons:
Cultural Heritage: The Big Island has a long and rich history of human habitation, including significant periods of Polynesian and Native Hawaiian occupation. Archaeological studies help uncover and preserve the material traces of these past cultures, contributing to our understanding of their histories, ways of life, and their connections to the present-day Hawaiian community.
Legal Obligations: According to Hawaiian state law, as well as federal laws like the National Historic Preservation Act, any development project that could potentially disturb archaeological sites must undergo an archaeological survey. These laws aim to protect historic and cultural resources from inadvertent destruction.
Respect for Indigenous Rights: Many archaeological sites on the Big Island are of particular significance to Native Hawaiian communities. Conducting archaeological studies allows these sites to be identified and considered in the planning process, thereby respecting the cultural rights and heritage of indigenous communities.
Education and Public Awareness: Archaeological studies also have the potential to increase public awareness and appreciation of the rich cultural history of the Big Island, by revealing fascinating details about the past, providing context for present-day practices and beliefs, and inspiring a sense of connection to the history of the land.
In essence, these studies ensure a balance between modern development and the preservation of cultural heritage, fostering sustainable development that respects and honors the past.
What is involved in an Archaeological study?
Surveying: Before development can begin, a thorough archaeological survey would need to be conducted. This involves mapping and documenting the area to identify any potential archaeological features.
Excavation: If the survey identifies potential archaeological features, an excavation may be needed to examine these features more closely. This could involve carefully removing soil and other materials to reveal any buried artifacts or structures.
Analysis: Any artifacts or structures that are discovered would need to be carefully analyzed to determine their historical or cultural significance. This could involve a range of techniques, such as radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the items or studying the materials and construction methods used to provide insights into the culture and lifestyle of the people who created them.
Preservation and Mitigation: If significant archaeological features are discovered, steps will need to be taken to preserve these features. This could involve altering the development plans to avoid disturbing the features, or it might involve carefully removing and relocating the features to a safe location. In some cases, a process called “data recovery” might be used, which involves thoroughly documenting the archaeological features before they are removed or destroyed.
Reporting: Finally, the results of the archaeological study would need to be reported to the SHPD and other relevant authorities. This report would document the methods used in the study, describe any discoveries that were made, and provide recommendations for how to proceed with the development.
Surveying
Archaeological surveys are an important initial step in the process of understanding the potential cultural resources in a given area before beginning any development activities. The purpose of a survey is to systematically identify and record the locations of archaeological sites, features, or artifacts in the landscape.
Surveys can take many forms depending on the nature of the project, the terrain, and the presumed cultural resources that may be present. Here is a breakdown of the usual process:
Literature Review: Before fieldwork begins, archaeologists often start with a literature review and archival research. This involves examining existing archaeological site records, historical documents, maps, and other resources to understand what types of archaeological features might be expected in the area.
Field Reconnaissance (or Ground Survey): This is the actual on-the-ground process of searching for archaeological sites. It might involve walking systematically over the land (a process often called pedestrian survey), visually inspecting the surface for artifacts, features, or changes in vegetation or soil that might indicate the presence of a site. In areas with thick vegetation, shovel test pits (small holes dug at regular intervals) may be used to check for buried artifacts or features.
Geophysical Surveys: If initial field reconnaissance suggests the presence of buried archaeological remains, more advanced techniques such as geophysical surveys may be employed. This can include methods like ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetometry, or resistivity surveys that can detect subsurface features without any invasive digging.
Aerial Surveys: In certain circumstances, aerial surveys may be utilized. These involve using drones or airplanes equipped with cameras or LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to identify archaeological features. This is particularly useful for large areas or difficult terrains.
Mapping: All potential archaeological sites, features, or artifacts are mapped using GPS or other surveying tools to accurately record their location. The information is often integrated into a Geographic Information System (GIS) for spatial analysis and to create detailed maps of the site.
Preliminary Assessment: After the survey, a preliminary assessment is made regarding the potential significance of the findings. This could determine whether more intensive studies, such as excavation, are warranted.
Keep in mind that the specifics of the survey can vary greatly depending on many factors, including the local regulations, the nature of the development project, the size of the area, the terrain, and the expected types and density of archaeological resources. The survey process is guided by professional archaeologists who are trained in these methods and techniques.
Excavation
Excavation is an intensive and systematic process often used in archaeology to uncover buried artifacts, structures, or features. It’s important to note that excavation is a destructive process—once a site is excavated, it can never be returned to its original state. Thus, excavation is often a last resort, only undertaken when the archaeological value of the potential data outweighs the value of preserving the site intact. Here’s a broad overview of the process:
Test Trenches or Pits: Before a full excavation, archaeologists often dig small test trenches or pits to get a sense of what lies beneath the surface. This helps in determining the depth and extent of the archaeological deposits and planning the full-scale excavation.
Grid Establishment: If a full excavation is to be carried out, a grid is usually established over the site. This allows for precise recording of where each artifact or feature is found in relation to others.
Stratigraphic Excavation: Archaeologists excavate in layers, or “strata”, to preserve the chronological context of the artifacts and features. This is based on the principle of stratigraphy, which states that, barring any disturbances, layers of soil are deposited over time such that the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.
Artifact Collection and Recording: As they excavate, archaeologists carefully collect any artifacts they find. They record the exact location and depth of each artifact, as well as details about the surrounding context (like soil color and consistency, presence of organic material, etc). Photographs and drawings often supplement these records.
Features Documentation: Archaeologists also record features—non-portable evidence of human activity, like walls, postholes, hearths, or ditches. These are documented in place, since they can’t be removed like artifacts.
Sample Collection: Soil, plant, and animal remains may be collected for further analysis. For instance, pollen analysis can reveal information about ancient environments, while analysis of animal bones can shed light on ancient diets.
Post-Excavation Analysis: After excavation, artifacts and samples are cleaned, labeled, and analyzed. This could involve anything from simple cataloging to complex processes like radiocarbon dating or DNA analysis.
Report Writing: Finally, the results of the excavation are compiled into a detailed report, which typically includes a description of the methods used, a catalog of the artifacts found, analysis of the data, and interpretations about the site.
Every step of this process is meticulously planned and executed to ensure that the maximum amount of information is obtained, and the site is minimally damaged. Legal permissions are often required before excavations can proceed, especially in places like Hawaii with rich cultural heritage and strict laws protecting archaeological sites. Moreover, best practices often involve collaboration with local communities, particularly when sacred or ancestral sites are involved.
Anylasis
Excavation is an intensive and systematic process often used in archaeology to uncover buried artifacts, structures, or features. It’s important to note that excavation is a destructive process—once a site is excavated, it can never be returned to its original state. Thus, excavation is often a last resort, only undertaken when the archaeological value of the potential data outweighs the value of preserving the site intact. Here’s a broad overview of the process:
Test Trenches or Pits: Before a full excavation, archaeologists often dig small test trenches or pits to get a sense of what lies beneath the surface. This helps in determining the depth and extent of the archaeological deposits and planning the full-scale excavation.
Grid Establishment: If a full excavation is to be carried out, a grid is usually established over the site. This allows for precise recording of where each artifact or feature is found in relation to others.
Stratigraphic Excavation: Archaeologists excavate in layers, or “strata”, to preserve the chronological context of the artifacts and features. This is based on the principle of stratigraphy, which states that, barring any disturbances, layers of soil are deposited over time such that the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.
Artifact Collection and Recording: As they excavate, archaeologists carefully collect any artifacts they find. They record the exact location and depth of each artifact, as well as details about the surrounding context (like soil color and consistency, presence of organic material, etc). Photographs and drawings often supplement these records.
Features Documentation: Archaeologists also record features—non-portable evidence of human activity, like walls, postholes, hearths, or ditches. These are documented in place, since they can’t be removed like artifacts.
Sample Collection: Soil, plant, and animal remains may be collected for further analysis. For instance, pollen analysis can reveal information about ancient environments, while analysis of animal bones can shed light on ancient diets.
Post-Excavation Analysis: After excavation, artifacts and samples are cleaned, labeled, and analyzed. This could involve anything from simple cataloging to complex processes like radiocarbon dating or DNA analysis.
Report Writing: Finally, the results of the excavation are compiled into a detailed report, which typically includes a description of the methods used, a catalog of the artifacts found, analysis of the data, and interpretations about the site.
Every step of this process is meticulously planned and executed to ensure that the maximum amount of information is obtained, and the site is minimally damaged. Legal permissions are often required before excavations can proceed, especially in places like Hawaii with rich cultural heritage and strict laws protecting archaeological sites. Moreover, best practices often involve collaboration with local communities, particularly when sacred or ancestral sites are involved.
Preservation and Mitigation
The concepts of preservation and mitigation are central to archaeological practices, especially when significant archaeological features or sites are discovered during the development of a project. Here’s a more in-depth look at these processes:
Preservation: Preservation involves protecting and maintaining an archaeological site in its current state. When a significant archaeological site is discovered on a proposed development site, preservation might involve modifying the project’s design to avoid disturbing the archaeological features. This is often the preferred approach as it allows the site to be preserved in its original context. Preservation may also involve measures to stabilize and protect the site from erosion, vegetation growth, or other factors that might cause deterioration over time.
Mitigation: If preservation in place is not feasible, a mitigation plan is developed to minimize the loss of information from the site. This could involve various strategies:
Excavation: If an archaeological site is to be impacted by development, one common form of mitigation is to conduct an excavation before construction begins. This allows archaeologists to recover artifacts and data from the site.
Data Recovery: This is an intensive, systematic process to document archaeological features that cannot be preserved. It involves detailed recording of the site’s features and artifacts, excavation, analysis, and reporting. The goal is to recover as much information as possible about the site before it is impacted.
Relocation: In some cases, it may be possible to carefully remove and relocate an archaeological feature to a safer location. However, this approach is not common because it removes the feature from its original context, which can lead to a loss of information.
Monitoring During Construction: Sometimes, a professional archaeologist may be present during construction to monitor ground-disturbing activities. If previously unknown archaeological resources are discovered during this process, construction can be halted to allow for their evaluation and recovery.
Public Outreach and Education: Preservation and mitigation can also involve public education and outreach, such as creating displays about the site and its artifacts, developing educational materials for schools, or organizing public tours of the site. This helps to raise public awareness about the importance of archaeological preservation and can generate support for these efforts.
All these steps require close collaboration between developers, archaeologists, local authorities, and often local indigenous communities, whose cultural heritage might be represented by the archaeological sites. Each situation is unique and the chosen approach will depend on many factors, including the nature of the site, the type and scale of the proposed development, and local and national laws and regulations regarding cultural heritage protection.
Reporting
Reporting is a crucial final step in any archaeological project. The report, also known as a site report or gray literature, is a comprehensive document that details all the work done, the methods used, the results obtained, and the interpretations and conclusions drawn. The report serves to place the archaeological findings into the public record for future researchers and interested parties to access. Here’s a more detailed look at what goes into an archaeological report:
Introduction: The report usually begins with an introduction that outlines the purpose of the study, the reasons for undertaking it, and an overview of the proposed development project that necessitated the study.
Background Research: This section details the literature review and any background research that was done. It might include historical context, previous archaeological work in the area, maps, and any pre-existing knowledge about potential archaeological features in the area.
Methodology: Here, the report details the exact methods used in the survey and/or excavation. This could include descriptions of survey techniques, excavation procedures, laboratory analysis methods, and more. It’s important to detail these methods so that others understand how the work was conducted and can evaluate its rigor and reliability.
Findings: This is usually the most substantial part of the report. It includes a detailed account of what was discovered during the project. This could include descriptions and photographs of artifacts, structures, and features, maps of the site, and any other relevant data. All findings are usually documented in their original archaeological context.
Analysis and Interpretation: In this section, the raw data is transformed into meaningful insights. The report will describe how the artifacts and other findings were analyzed, and what was learned from this analysis. This might include interpretations about the cultural, historical, or scientific significance of the findings.
Recommendations: Based on the findings and analysis, the report will usually include recommendations for how to proceed. This might involve recommendations for preservation or mitigation strategies if significant archaeological resources were found.
Bibliography and Appendices: Like any academic document, the report will include a bibliography of sources consulted. Appendices might include any additional data that supports the main body of the report, such as complete artifact catalogs, specialized scientific reports, or raw data from geophysical surveys.
This report is then submitted to the relevant authorities, like the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) in Hawai’i, which review the report and decide on the next steps. The report might also be made available to the public, especially if the findings are of significant public interest.
How do I go about ordering an Archaeological Study on the Big Island?
To order an archaeological study on the Big Island of Hawaii, you will need to follow a series of steps:
Identify the Need: The first thing you need to do is establish why you need an archaeological study. Usually, these studies are required when planning to develop a property that may contain archaeological sites or artifacts, particularly in culturally rich areas like Hawaii.
Contact the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD): In Hawaii, the SHPD is the agency responsible for protecting the state’s historic and cultural resources. They can provide you with guidance on the process, help you determine what kind of study you need (survey, excavation, monitoring, etc.), and advise on required permits.
Hire a Professional Archaeologist: Archaeological studies need to be conducted by professionals with expertise in the area’s local history and culture. You can find these professionals at universities, private consulting firms, or cultural resource management (CRM) firms. In Hawaii, make sure the archaeologist or firm is approved by the SHPD to conduct such studies.
Develop a Plan: Together with the archaeologist, you will need to develop a plan for the study. This will include what methods will be used, what areas will be investigated, what the timeline will be, etc. This plan may need to be approved by the SHPD before work can begin.
Conduct the Study: The archaeologist will then conduct the study according to the approved plan. This might involve surveying the land, excavating any discovered sites, analyzing any artifacts found, and more.
Report the Findings: At the end of the study, the archaeologist will compile a report detailing their methods, findings, and recommendations. This report will need to be submitted to the SHPD and may also be made available to you, the client.
Follow-up Actions: Based on the report’s findings and the SHPD’s review, there may be follow-up actions required. For example, if significant archaeological resources are found, you may need to modify your development plans or take steps to preserve or mitigate the impacts to the archaeological resources.
Remember, it’s essential to follow all local and state laws and regulations when conducting an archaeological study. The SHPD and your hired archaeologist can guide you through this process. Failure to properly conduct an archaeological study where necessary can result in legal penalties and delays in your development project.
Contacts and References
State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD): Contact the SHPD in Hawaii. They often have a list of approved archaeologists or firms that are qualified to conduct archaeological surveys and studies in the state.
Local Universities: Reach out to relevant departments (like Anthropology or Archaeology) at universities in Hawaii, such as the University of Hawaii at Hilo or the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They might be able to recommend faculty members or graduates who specialize in local archaeology.
Professional Organizations: Check with professional organizations like the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) or the World Archaeological Congress (WAC). They might have directories of their members, which could include archaeologists working in Hawaii.
Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Firms: Search for CRM firms operating in Hawaii. These firms specialize in conducting archaeological surveys and studies, often in advance of construction or development projects.
Remember to verify the qualifications and experience of any archaeologist or firm you consider hiring, and ensure that they have the necessary approvals and permits to conduct archaeological work in Hawaii.
About the Author
James T. Morrison, R(S)
James T. Morrison is a Realtor with Knutson & Associates, and part of the Papakea Collection Sales Team. You can email him directly at JTM@Jamesmorrisonhawaii.com or call or text him directly at (808) 339-8249
Licesnse #79190 Realtor
papakeacollection
March 10, 2026
