Nearly a dozen burial sites were discovered in one year – the Camp Blaz structure
Last modified: Friday, April 16, 2021 BST 22. 01
A senator from Guam has presented an investigation into the structure of a U. S. army base on the island after the discovery of ancient human remains, such as furnaces, equipment, and pottery from an ancient village at the proposed site.
Senator Telena Nelson, chairwoman of the Legislative Committee on Historical Preservation, is launching an investigation into the Blaz camp of the United States Marine Corps in the village of Dededo in northern Guam.
This week, the committee organized a network roundtable and a follow-up hearing to read about the prestige of cemeteries and human remains at Camp Blaz.
The army base, which has yet to be completed, will have room for 5,000 U. S. Marines who will be transferred from Okinawa to Guam. Blaz partially opened in October 2020, but the structure’s activity continues, with about 16 projects underway.
But the Office of Historical Conservation of the State of Guam reported that nearly a dozen former human burial sites, dating back to 1500. C. al 1000 . C,” were discovered at separate structure sites in Camp Blaz last year.
Last July, the conservation firm reported that, in addition to the ancient remains, archaeologists had also unearthed mortars, clay ovens, tools, pottery and other items in a town known as the ancient village of Haputo.
“It is vital that this structure site is not only the site of the Marine Corps Long-Term Base, it is a living museum containing vital chamorros artifacts, the remains of the ancient village of Mguak (Magua’) and the remains of our ancestors, who lived there and were buried there for eternal rest,” Nelson said.
“While more and more remains of our ancestors were discovered after centuries of unaltered peace, it is general for the rest of our people to interact with our spirit of inafa’maolek and expand our cultural practice of respect. “
The alteration of cultural sites in Guam as a result of the expansion of the defense has been one of the main triggers of conflicts between the army and the local community.
“I think it’s a disgrace to the military component that is made known that the values of our network are not taken into account,” said Dr. Moneka de Oro, a local activist, adding: “Our program is to remember ourselves. that this land is sacred; we are the protectors and defenders of this land. No matter who comes and any flag that rises, the other people who have the most powerful connection to our land are the native chamorros.
Anthony Ramos, spokesman for the United States Navy, adhered to a protocol for archaeological discoveries at the assignment sites.
“All the paintings in the surrounding area stop without delay and an archaeologist is informed of the discovery at Marine Corps Blaz’s base camp to plan a stopover at the site,” Ramos said. “Once the site is confirmed, the domain is cordoned off and through a compromise fence. “
It said that the Office for Historical Preservation of the State of Guam had been informed within 48 to 72 hours and that the structure had remained suspended until investigations were completed and Guam SHPO was informed.
“We will continue a guilty structure procedure through extensive joint efforts with the Guam government, federal/local agencies and establishments to leverage more than a decade of investment and inter-agency planning,” Ramos said.
Throughout the period of the structure, he said, “many vital cultural resources were conserved or avoided during the collaborative plan-making phase of the Marine Movement. “
Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Guam’s head of ancient preservation, said she had not yet completed her report on archaeological discoveries at Camp Blaz.
“There’s a ton of data on the Internet about so many other burial sites in Guam,” Leon Guerrero said, reacting to Nelson’s data request. “There is a lot of data that is not well known and that you can simply tell other people that you are interested in meeting our ancestors. “