‘Human remains found in dig have no long bones’

The ancient bones discovered during a sewer line excavation on Beach Road several weeks ago were almost intact—except for those of the lower appendages, which were missing, leading an archeologist working at the site to express belief that the bones were used to make spearheads.

Randy Harper, an archaeologist from Swift and Harper Archeologists and Research Consultants, said probably—“almost undoubtedly”—the long bones were collected for spearhead manufacture.

“Because it’s a feared weapon, the Spanish had talked about them, and they were very afraid of those,” he said.

So far, SHARC has dug up at least 43 human remains since December last year and most of them also had their arms missing, said Harper.

Harper said SHARC’s team of archeologists has been keeping the human remains at its office. He said they would soon finish identifying which bones that would be sent to Hawaii for further analysis.

Among the 43 human remains found, 30 percent, or at least 12 of them, would be used for advance osteological analysis, which would include bone analysis and the condition of the individual when discovered.

He said SHARC would pick out the best samples to provide the best information for analysis. The bones will be sent to another archaeologist, Michael Pietrusewski in Hawaii.

After the analysis, Harper said, the bones would be sent back to the CNMI and forwarded to the Historic Preservation Office, possibly for reburial.

Earlier this month, workers contracted to replace the sewer line underneath Beach Road in Chalan Kanoa found the bones while digging across the street from the Bank of Saipan.

SHARC archaeologists immediately went to the site and meticulously brushed, sifted, and catalogued the remains before completing the excavation. They believe the remains are that of an ancient Chamorro.

Guam Pacific Power Corp. was contracted by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to carry out the sewer line project and they, in turn, contracted SHARC to monitor the dig for just such an occasion.

The archeologists believe the remains found this month to be from a young Chamorro male due to the shape of the greater sciatic notch on the pelvis, and that all but the wisdom teeth were stained in the ancient tradition, indicating the possible age of the individual.

Marilyn Swift, another archaeologist from SHARC, said that based upon preliminary assessments, bones believed to be from anywhere between the 16th and 17th centuries.

According to Swift, SHARC believes that they may have found the ancient village of Catanhuda, due to the increase in the frequency of finds and that the bodies were missing their leg bones. It is said that the ancient people on the island would dig up the bones for use as spearheads.

Harper said aside from the two they found in December, the rest of the 43 remains were dug up only in the past six weeks.