Yellow Beach 2 after 75 years : the archaeology of a WWII invasion beach on Saipan and its historic context in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands / Boyd Dixon, Brenda Y. Tenorio, Cherie Walth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dixon, Boyd, author.

Tenorio, Brenda, author.

Walth, Cherie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Excavations (Archaeology).

Excavations (Archaeology)--Recording.

Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)--Antiquities.

Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (142 pages)

Place of Publication:

Oxford, UK : Archaeopress, [2019]

Summary:

On June 15, 1944, Afetna Point was called 'Yellow Beach 2' by the U.S. Marines and Army infantry braving Japanese resistance to establish a beachhead before capturing As Lito airfield in the following days. After 75 years, this book presents archaeological evidence, archival records, and respected elders' accounts from WWII.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Information

Contents

List of Figures

Preface

Chapter 1

Introduction to Yellow Beach 2 on Saipan

1.1. Yellow Beach 2 (Afetna Point) after 75 Years

Chapter 2

The Afetna Point Archaeological Project

Chapter 3

Figure 1. Location of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands

Figure 2. Project Area on Saipan

Figure 3. Sites and Features in Parcel 004-1-52

Figure 4. Timeline for Parel 004-1-52

Environmental Context of Afetna Point

3.1 Physical Environment

3.1.1. Geology

3.1.2. Soils

3.1.3. Precipitation

3.1.4 Hydrology

3.1.5 Vegetation

Chapter 4

Research Design and Methods Employed

4.1. Research Objectives

4.2. Research Questions

4.3. Methods

4.3.1. Field Methods

4.3.2. Data Recovery Excavation

4.3.3. Laboratory Methods

4.4. Artifact and Osteological Analysis

4.4.1. Historic Artifacts

4.4.2. Human Bone Analysis

4.5. Previous Archaeological Investigations near Afetna Point

Chapter 5

Figure 5. Schematic of Construction Phases Across the Project Area

Figure 6. Map of San Antonio Village Showing the Afetna Archaeological Site

Yellow Beach 2: Historic Context of Afetna Point

5.1. Pre-Contact Background

5.1.1. Pre-Latte Period

5.1.2. Latte Period

5.2. Historic Background

5.2.1. Contact Period

5.2.2. Spanish Administration

5.2.3. German Administration

5.2.4. Japanese Administration and WWII

5.2.5 American Administration and CNMI

5.2.6. Recent Landuse History

5.2.6.1. Carmen Dela Cruz Farrell, Tinian

5.2.6.2. Site SP -1035

5.2.6.2. SP 6-1035 / Feature D

5.2.6.3. SP 6-1038 / Feature A

Chapter 6

Figure 7. Village of Garapan in 1887 (Farrell 2011:308)

Figure 8. Carolinians off Tinian in 1819 (Farrell 2011:248).

Figure 9. Japanese Period Land Utilization circa 1930 (Bower 1950)

Figure 10. Japanese Defenses and American Invasions (Rottman 2004:21)

Figure 11. Saipan Loran Station 1946

Figure 12. Saipan Loran Station 1955

Figure 13. Saipan Loran Station 1968

Figure 14. Loran Station Communication Building and Generator Room

Figure 15. Loran Station Concrete Antenna Base and Wall

Figure 16. Loran Station Concrete Pier Found at Low Tide

Figure 17. SP 6-1035, Feature D Octagonal Lid being Removed

Figure 18. SP 6-1035, Feature D Plan and Cross-Section

Figure 19. SP 6-1038, Feature A Pad Northeast Corner

Figure 20. SP 6-1038, Feature A Metal Sign beneath the Pad.

Figure 21. SP 5-1036, Feature A Entrance and Blast Door Fragments

WWII Era Results

6.1. SP 5-1036 / Feature A

6.2. WWII Japanese Military Artifacts

6.2.1. Arisaka Type 38 Carbine

6.2.3. Model 91 Japanese Hand Grenade

6.2.4. Japanese Imperial Army Canteen

6.2.5. M 98 Japanese Enlisted Man Uniform

6.2.6. Staybrite Wristwatch

6.2.7. Japanese Enamel Rice or Soup Bowl

6.2.8. Nodashoyu 2 Litre Soy Sauce Bottle

6.2.9. Dainippon 1 Litre Beer Bottle

6.3. WWII American Military Artifacts

6.3.1. Browning M1917 30 Caliber Machine Gun

6.3.2. Browning M2 HB 50 Caliber Machine Gun

6.3.3. 105mm M3 Howitzer

6.3.4. American Pineapple Hand Grenade

6.3.5. American White Phosphorous Smoke Grenade

6.3.6. American M2 60 Millimeter Mortar Bipod

6.3.7. American Combat Gear

6.3.8. U.S. SMCO 1942 Canteen

6.3.9. U.S. Vollrath 1943 Canteen

6.3.10. U.S. Bottles

6.3.11. U.S. Communication Devices

6.3.12. U.S. Navy Spoon

6.3.13. U.S. 1941 Nickel

6.3.14. U.S. Duraglass Beer Bottles 1944

6.3.15. U.S. Coca Cola Oakland Bottling 1944

Chapter 7

Figure 22. SP 5-1036, Feature A Interior Chamber from Doorway Hall.

Figure 23. SP 5-1036, Feature A Interior Floor with TU.1 between Airholes Above

Figure 24. SP 5-1036, Feature A Exterior Airhole Vent

Figure 25. SP 5-1036, Feature A, Plan View with TP.1 Inside

Figure 26. Arisaka Type 38 Carbine at Center (War Department 1943b:41)

Figure 27. Artifact Number 190.001, Japanese Military Arisaka Type 38 Carbine

Figure 28. Artifact Number 71.002, Japanese 6.5 or 7.7 mm Bullets for Arisaka Rifles at Burial 13

Figure 29. Schematic of the Model 91 Japanese Hand Grenade (War Department 1943b:47)

Figure 30. Model 91 Japanese Hand Grenade at Burial 15

Figure 31. Japanese Military Canteen for Noncommissioned Officers (War Department 1944:37)

Figure 32. Artifact Number 71.002, Japanese Military Canteen Associated with Burial 13

Figure 33. Japanese M98 Enlisted Man Uniform (War Department 1944:26)

Figure 34. Japanese Ammunition Belt, Bullet Pouches, and Bayonet Frog (War Department 1943b:38)

Figure 35. Artifact Number 71.003, Japanese Military Buckles Associated with Burial 13

Figure 36. Artifact Number 71.004, Japanese Military Boot Heels Associated with Burial 13

Figure 37. Artifact Number 74.001, Japanese Uniform Buttons Associated with Burial 15

Figure 38. Artifact Number 71.002, Japanese Military Textile Associated with Burial 13

Figure 39. Artifact Number 74.002, Staybrite English Manufactured Wristwatch with Burial 15, Back

Figure 40. Artifact Number 74.002, Staybrite English Manufactured Wristwatch with Burial 15, Face

Figure 41. Japanese Enamel Rice or Soup Bowl (Reburied)

Figure 42. Close-up of Kiyosu E.W. Japan B Makers Mark 32 cm (Reburied)

Figure 43. Artifact Number 145.001, Nodashoyu 2 Litre Soy Sauce Bottle

Figure 44. Artifact Number 144.001, Dainippon 1 Litre Beer Bottle

Figure 45. Browning 30 Caliber Light Machine Gun on Saipan (Hammel 2010:15).

Figure 46. Artifact Number 189.001, American Military Browning M1917 30 Caliber Machine Gun

Figure 47. American Military 50 Caliber Machine Gun Belt and Ammunition Box

Figure 48. Example of 105mm M3 Howitzer on Saipan (Hammel 2010:19)

Figure 49. American Military 105 Millimeter M3 Howitzer Shell Canisters

Figure 50. Example of Three-Shell Artillery Ammunition Carrier Lids on Guam (Hammel 2010:78

Figure 51. American Military Three-Shell Artillery Ammunition Carrier Lid (Reburied)

Figure 52. American 37mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Round

Figure 53. American Grenades Being Thrown on Saipan (Hammel 2010:32)

Figure 54. American Military 'Pineapple' Grenade

Figure 55. American Military White Phosphorous Smoke Grenade

Figure 56. American M2 60 Millimeter Bipod Mortar Support (Reburied)

Figure 57. U.S.N. Optical Device (Reburied)

Figure 58. American Military T-Posts in Buried Foxhole (Reburied

Figure 59. American Military Barbed Wire (Reburied)

Figure 60. American Military Looped Tow Wire (Reburied)

Figure 61. WWII or Postwar USCG Antenna Ground Post and Wires (Reburied)

Figure 62. American U.S.M.C. Invasion Beach on Saipan (Hammel 2010:9)

Figure 63. American Bayonet Scabbard and 105mm Shell Canisters (Reburied)

Figure 64. American Military Shovel (Reburied)

Figure 65. American Military Mess Kit, Canteen, and Food Packet (Reburied)

Figure 66. U.S. Vollrath 1943 American Military Canteen (Artifacts 142a, b, c)

Figure 67. American Medicine Bottle (Reburied)

Figure 68. Artifact number 69.001, American Rifle Oil Bottle

Figure 69. American Military Photographic Device in Ammo Box (Reburied)

Figure 70. American Military Communication Device Batteries and Ammo Box (Reburied)

Figure 71. Artifact Number 146.001, U.S.N. Spoon

Figure 72. Artifact Number 70.001, 1941 Jefferson Nickel.

Figure 73. Artifact Numbers 143.001 and 143.002, 1944 Duraglass Beer Bottles

Figure 74. Artifact Number 143.003, 1944 Coca-Cola Bottle

Osteological Analysis

7.1. Assemblage Characteristics

7.1.1. Cranial and Mandibular Metric Data

7.1.2. Cranial and Mandibular Nonmetric Data

7.2. Postcranial Metric Data

7.3. Postcranial Nonmetric Data

7.4. Dental Metric Data

7.5. Dental Nonmetric Data

7.6. Dental Pathologies

7.7. Skeletal Pathologies

7.8. Summary

Chapter 8

Figure 75. Burial 13, right mandible showing bridgework

Figure 76. Burial 13, left maxilla with crown on M3

Figure 77. Burial 68, right mandible with silver crown on M2

scooped-out area at root is possible abscess

Figure 78. Burial 13, left parietal with scorching and hole, likely from penetrating trauma

Figure 79. Burial 13, inner table of parietal with trauma

Figure 80. Burial 13, with shrapnel in left ulna

Figure 81. Burial 13, medial epicondyle is missing

Figure 82. Burial 57, medial epicondyle is missing

San Antonio Memories Today

8.1. San Antonio Memories Today

8.1.1. Methods Used in Compiling these Narratives

8.1.2. Presentation of these Narratives

8.2. Interviews

8.2.1 Interview with Pedro A. Tenorio

8.2.2. Interview with Jesus T. Guerrero

8.2.3. Interview with Rudy M. Sablan

8.2.4. Interview with Frances S. Ramon

8.2.5. Interview with Nieves Cruz Ngeskebei

8.3. Summarizing these Narratives

8.3.1. Pre-war Japanese Era:

8.3.2. WWII Combat and Recovery:

8.3.3. Post-war American Era:

8.4. Conclusions from these Narratives

Chapter 9

Discussion of Research Questions

9.1. Spanish, German, and Japanese Periods

9.2. WWII and American Period

Chapter 10

Figure 83: Pre-Invasion Afetna Point in 1944 (Courtesy of John Scott).

Figure 84: WWII Afetna Point Invasion Beaches in 1944 (Courtesy of John Scott).

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781789692594

1789692598

OCLC:

1239974055