Historic Maritime Activities in the Northern Mariana Islands During the Mid-19th to Early20th Century By Sarah Nahabedian Program Director at the Block Island Maritime Institute sarah.nahabedian@flinders.edu.au and Jason Raupp
Abstract: The maritime history of the Northern Mariana Islands can be seen reflected in the recorded history of the islands. From initial European contact and colonization to multiple culture groups using the islands for settlement, trade, reprovision and eventually a strategically important location during World War II. Saipan is an island within the Northern Mariana Island archipelago and therefore by its very nature is a maritime community. This paper aims to examine historic maritime activities in the Northern Mariana Islands during the mid-nineteenth to early-20th century as well as to investigate the remains of an unidentified shipwreck site in Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan as a view into the maritime activities of that time period. An analysis of the archaeological remains will give insight into the maritime activities of this region during a historical period while examining the association between the historic waterfront in Garapan, Saipan and the shipwreck site. Introduction Over the past 3500 years (Rainbird 2004: 81) several cultural groups have utilized the island of Saipan for a variety of purposes including settlement, trade, provisioning and as a strategic position for wartime activities. Maritime heritage sites ranging from ancient coastal settlements to those of wrecked ships, planes and other World War II (WWII) era sites that have been identified on the island and in the surrounding waters. Until recently a nearly four hundred-year gap existed in the submerged heritage record of its Late Colonial period. The discovery of an artifact scatter associated with the wreck of a nineteenth or twentieth century sailing vessel presented an opportunity to begin filling that gap. Further, the historical and archaeological study of these remains will contribute to a broader understanding of colonial interaction, cultural changes and trade in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the Pacific region during this time period.
Marianas History Conference 2012 ăƒť 157