Archaeological Investigations at Tarague Beach, Guam,

Abstract : Fieldwork included the excavation of 5 tests units at two locations and the preparation of a long documents research was undertaken. This research disclosed serious deficiencies in the data used to support the inference advanced by Kurashina and others that Tarague Beach was initially occupied by 1500 B.C. Until further radiocarbon dating and field investigations can be undertaken, a definite initial occupation date cannot be reliably advanced. However, it is clear that the earliest archaelogical deposits cannot date prior to about 1,000 B.C. and that they could date somewhat less than that. Information on the securely dated sites in Guam and the other Mariana Islands is briefly presented. In addition, the context of Mariana Islands prehistory in Micronesia is discussed. Extensive analyses were undertaken of the pottery, midden remains, skeletal remains, and non-ceramic artifacts. Various problems and interpretive difficulties are noted in the discussion. It is recommended that due to the extremely significant nature of the archaeological remains at Tarague, the Air Force should take every precaution to insure that there is no land disturbance without prior clearance by a qualified archaeologist. It is also suggested that a cultural resources management plan be prepared, that the burn pit filled in, that road grading be confined to the present road bed with no deepening of the bed, and that a nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places be submitted for the Tarague Beach area.