Connections to the Sea: Maritime Heritage in American Samoa
American Samoa. The inventory features Cultural Heritage from the Sea? multiple aspects of history in American
Cultural heritage resources in the marine Samoa: 1) historic shipwrecks lost in American Samoa; 2) World War II naval context emphasize all types of past human connections to the sea, whether those aircraft lost in American Samoa; 3) World connections are centered in Samoan traditions War II fortifications, gun emplacements, and and lifestyles (fa`a-Samoa), Samoan coastal coastal pillboxes; 4) Samoan coastal archaeological sites or cultural uses of marine archaeological sites; and 5) coastal and resources, or maritime heritage sites such as marine features associated with ancient NOAA ONMS historic shipwrecks and other significant Samoan myths and legends. Very few of the A coastal pillbox near the village of Alao; underwater objects. historic ships or aircraft have been located signposts of the Pacific War. within the waters of the Territory; the initial inventory work was document-based and did Certain coastal and marine natural features like tupua also have strong cultural connections as not involve field survey. Some of the visible touchstones of oral history, parts of the potential sites, if located and confirmed, NOAA’s Maritime Heritage could be eligible for the National Register of Program heritage record. According to Volk, Knudsen, Kluge and Herdrich, “these sites are of Historic Places.
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries extraordinary significance to Samoan culture. created the Maritime Heritage Program Compared to all of the archaeological and Fagatele Bay’s Management Plan historic sites that the HPO [Historic (MHP) in 2001 to meet NOAA’s obligation Review Process to protect and manage the historical, Preservation Office] tries to protect, these sites cultural, and archaeological resources are seen as the most significant to local Strategies considering cultural and maritime within the National Marine Sanctuary residents.” (Towards a Territorial Conservation heritage resource management and System. Since then the MHP has become Strategy…1992) preservation have been included in the initial the nation’s leader in the discovery, draft plan for Fagatele Bay National Marine assessment, and preservation of these Maritime Heritage: Stories from the Sanctuary as part of the sanctuary’s unique objects and sites. management plan review process. These Past are ways to enhance the public stewardship
Maritime heritage resources include sites In June 2007 NOAA’s Office of National Marine of marine resources and learn from the rich and features of cultural, archaeological, or Sanctuaries completed an initial document- heritage of American Samoa. historical significance, such as shipwrecks, based maritime heritage resource inventory for submerged aircraft, inundated prehistoric landscapes, and locations of tribal or indigenous cultural importance. Unlike most marine resources, heritage artifacts and sites are often nonrenewable. Once a site or artifact is damaged or lost, it is gone forever.
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is committed to preserving historical, cultural, and archaeological resources within the sanctuary system and within federally controlled waters, and sharing these unique windows on the past with the public. NOAA ONMS The Samoan Voyaging Society’s (Aiga Tautai o Samoa Association) replica double-hulled voyaging canoe Alia, built at the Nu`uuli Vocational Technical School by Maselino Ioane, 1996.
http://fagatelebay.noaa.gov
Photo Archives, American Samoa Jean P. Haydon Collection
Wharf at Swains Island lagoon, circa 1937. Swains’ lush coconut groves supported a copra plantation for many years.
Swains Island: a Special Location available historical documentation, resources at Swains can address many of The story of Swains Island, a tiny atoll which photographs, and oral interviews (including these fascinating issues. Is there is part of American Samoa, has been almost His Highness Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi of archaeological evidence of ancient Pacific lost in time, yet Swains Island has a unique Samoa, Alex Jennings and Wally Thompson voyaging at Swains? What remains of the and varied past, touching on Pacific Island families, and others). The study produced a historic 19th and early 20th century structures voyaging, Spanish discovery in the early heritage timeline of both ancient and on the island? Has the lagoon preserved 17th century, the historic whaling era, Pacific contemporary events on Swains. In May 2011 evidence of the past? copra plantations, the U.S. Navy, and more. the sanctuary system sponsored a visit to Few archaeologists or historians have ever Swains Island, hosted by the Jennings family. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries visited the island. The marine areas adjacent and the Maritime Heritage Program have to Swains are currently being considered as Potential for a 2012 Survey supported numerous investigations of our a potential addition to Fagatele Bay National shared maritime heritage in a wide variety of Marine Sanctuary (FBNMS) as a sanctuary The 2011 reconnaissance at Swains locations and environments. Understanding unit. highlighted the potential cultural and historic these resources teaches us about our past discoveries as yet unrealized at the island. connections to the sea, our place within the In 2009 NOAA’s Office of National Marine Assembling a small select survey team for a ecosystem, and our role as stewards of the Sanctuaries initiated a maritime heritage short but effective investigation of the heritage marine environment. study of Swains Island, including the
Photo: NOAA OMNS Polynesian Photo Archives, American Samoa Jean P. Haydon Collection Photo: NOAA NCCOS
A whaler’s try pot for processing whale oil; this Jennings’ faletele, circa 1937 Naval personnel Satellite image of Swains Island, showing the one is circa 1865, recovered from Swain’s Island. and Fitafita Guards near the structure. lagoon in the center.
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