International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc. PREHISTORIC & HISTORIC INVESTIGATIONS CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENTS & PLANNING PALEOENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES HAWAI‘I: 2081 Young Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96826-2231 Tel: (808) 946-2548 Fax: (808) 943-0716 e-mail: [email protected]GUAM: P.O. Box 22621, GMF, Guam 96921 Tel/Fax: (671) 646-7552 e-mail: [email protected]November 8, 2013 Ms. Nicki Thompson Acting SHPD Administrator Kakuhihewa Building 601 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 555 Kapolei, Hawai‘i 96707 SUBJECT: FINAL No Findings Letter Report for Archaeological Monitoring of Reber Circle Demolition at the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site, Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui, Hawai‘i (TMK: 2-2-007:008 [Portion]). Dear Ms. Thompson: Under contract to KC Environmental, International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc. (IARII) completed archaeological monitoring of the demolition of Reber Circle on December 3, 2012. The monitoring was part of a mitigation measure for the construction of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) as required under Section 4-17, Mitigation-8, of ATST’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (NSF 2009), and Section II. H of the Programmatic Agreement (PA), which was signed by the National Science Foundation, the National Park Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Officer, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, and the University of Hawai‘i (for the benefit of its Institute for Astronomy) (executed November 2009, amended February 2012). Mitigation-8 relates to the removal of the concrete ring comprising Site 50-50-11-5443, the remnant of a 1951-1952 radio telescope experiment, in accordance with the archaeological data recovery plan (Frederickson 2005). The project area includes a portion of the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory site totaling less than 0.25 acres (Fig. 1). Reber Circle is located at the east end of the observatory complex, which sits at the summit of Haleakalā in Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui, Hawai‘i (Fig. 2). Reber Circle (Site 50-50-11-5443) was part of the former radio telescope facility constructed in 1951- 1952 by Grote Reber (Figs. 3-6). Archaeological monitoring was conducted in compliance with the approved site archaeological data recovery plan completed by Frederickson (2005; Log No.: 2006.1881, Doc No.: 0606MK16). A separate Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) report that specifically addresses the data recovery questions posed in Frederickson (2005) was accepted by the National Park Service (Jones 2013). The data recovery work plan, and the associated preservation plan (Frederickson 2006), provide summaries of pertinent historical and archaeological background information for the project. Archaeological monitoring was implemented to insure that no other archaeological features in the area were adversely affected by the demolition. Demolition of Reber Circle required the removal of the circular stone and concrete foundation for the former radio telescope (Figs. 7 and 8). J. Stephen Athens, Ph.D., was the Principal Investigator for the project and was responsible for overall project management, insuring that appropriate research standards were maintained, and providing research direction and oversight. Timothy Rieth, M.A., was the Project Director responsible for the monitoring efforts and completion of the technical letter report. Chris Filimoehala, M.A., performed the monitoring and prepared this letter.
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International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc. PREHISTORIC & HISTORIC INVESTIGATIONS CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENTS & PLANNING PALEOENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Ms. Nicki Thompson Acting SHPD Administrator Kakuhihewa Building 601 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 555 Kapolei, Hawai‘i 96707
SUBJECT: FINAL No Findings Letter Report for Archaeological Monitoring of Reber Circle Demolition at the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site, Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui, Hawai‘i (TMK: 2-2-007:008 [Portion]).
Dear Ms. Thompson: Under contract to KC Environmental, International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc. (IARII) completed archaeological monitoring of the demolition of Reber Circle on December 3, 2012. The monitoring was part of a mitigation measure for the construction of the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) as required under Section 4-17, Mitigation-8, of ATST’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (NSF 2009), and Section II. H of the Programmatic Agreement (PA), which was signed by the National Science Foundation, the National Park Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Officer, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, and the University of Hawai‘i (for the benefit of its Institute for Astronomy) (executed November 2009, amended February 2012). Mitigation-8 relates to the removal of the concrete ring comprising Site 50-50-11-5443, the remnant of a 1951-1952 radio telescope experiment, in accordance with the archaeological data recovery plan (Frederickson 2005).
The project area includes a portion of the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory site totaling less than 0.25 acres (Fig. 1). Reber Circle is located at the east end of the observatory complex, which sits at the summit of Haleakalā in Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui, Hawai‘i (Fig. 2). Reber Circle (Site 50-50-11-5443) was part of the former radio telescope facility constructed in 1951-1952 by Grote Reber (Figs. 3-6). Archaeological monitoring was conducted in compliance with the approved site archaeological data recovery plan completed by Frederickson (2005; Log No.: 2006.1881, Doc No.: 0606MK16). A separate Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) report that specifically addresses the data recovery questions posed in Frederickson (2005) was accepted by the National Park Service (Jones 2013). The data recovery work plan, and the associated preservation plan (Frederickson 2006), provide summaries of pertinent historical and archaeological background information for the project. Archaeological monitoring was implemented to insure that no other archaeological features in the area were adversely affected by the demolition. Demolition of Reber Circle required the removal of the circular stone and concrete foundation for the former radio telescope (Figs. 7 and 8).
J. Stephen Athens, Ph.D., was the Principal Investigator for the project and was responsible for overall project management, insuring that appropriate research standards were maintained, and providing research direction and oversight. Timothy Rieth, M.A., was the Project Director responsible for the monitoring efforts and completion of the technical letter report. Chris Filimoehala, M.A., performed the monitoring and prepared this letter.
Monitoring was conducted during the ground disturbing activities associated with the demolition of Reber Circle, which included 1) the removal of a NASA benchmark dated 1980, 2) the removal of the circular foundation that was constructed with reinforced concrete and basalt boulders, and 3) excavation of a shallow pit to accommodate the burial of materials removed during demolition. Excavated sediment was inspected for cultural features or material. The archaeological monitor completed field notes describing the location and extent of ground disturbance, completed sediment descriptions, and photographed demolition activities. All fieldwork documentation will be curated at the IARII Honolulu office indefinitely.
The demolition did not involve extensive excavations, as the majority of activity was limited to the removal of the relatively shallow foundation (Figs. 9 and 10). The single excavation that occurred was located directly north of the circle (Fig. 11).
A dark brown coarse cinder was the only sediment observed across the project area (Table 1). No traditional Hawaiian or historical cultural deposits or features were exposed during the demolition.
As there are no archaeological remains of significance to document, this letter report will serve as the full and final technical report for the project, fulfilling the reporting requirements of the Site 50-50-11-5442 data recovery plan (Frederickson 2005). This final letter addresses all of the comments provided by the SHPD in the draft letter review dated November 7, 2013 (LOG NO: 2013.0407, DOC NO: 1309CG07).
Sincerely,
Chris Filimoehala, M.A.
and
Tim Rieth, M.A. IARII Projects Manager
Figure 1. Reber Circle Project Area, with the foundation visible as a half circle.
Figure 2. Project area in relation to Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site.
Figure 3. A 1952 photograph of the beginnings of the framework for Reber’s radio telescope; (photograph credit: National Radio Astronomy Observatory [NRAO]/AUI, http://jump.cv.nrao.edu/dbtw-wpd/Textbase/Imagefiles/Kolekole_framework-1.jpg).
Figure 4. A 1952 photograph of the radio telescope array (photograph credit: NRAO/AUI, http://jump.cv.nrao.edu/dbtw-wpd/Textbase/Imagefiles/Kolekole_framework-16.jpg).
Figure 5. A composite photograph of the radio telescope (photograph credit: NRAO/AUI, http://jump.cv.nrao.edu/dbtw-wpd/Textbase/Imagefiles/Reber_1st_Radio_Telescope_Maui_1952.jpg).
Figure 6. A 1957 photograph of Reber’s radio telescope after an ice storm (photograph credit: NRAO/AUI, http://jump.cv.nrao.edu/dbtw-wpd/Textbase/Imagefiles/Ice_damage_1957-3.jpg).
Figure 7. Overview of Reber Circle; view to the northeast.
Figure 8. Close-up view of Reber Circle foundation construction; view to the east.
Figure 9. Portion of east end of circle foundation after removal; view to the west.
Figure 10. Demolition activities at east end of Reber Circle; view to south.
Figure 11. Pit excavated for the disposal of demolished materials.
Table 1. Sediment Description for Reber Circle
Layer Depth (cm bs) Sedimentary Description Depositional History I 0-80 Dark Brown (7.5 YR 3/2
Dry) cinder; structureless, fine to medium angular structure; loose and non-coherent when dry, nonsticky nonplastic when wet; weakly cemented; no roots; 30-40% angular pebbles to cobbles
Natural deposit associated with the formation of Haleakalā
Frederickson, Eric M.
2005 An Archaeological Data Recovery Plan for Site 50-50-11-5443, 18.1-acre Parcel Known as Science City, Haleakala Crater, Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui Island (TMK: 2-2-07:portion of 8). Prepared for KC Environmental, Inc. Xamanek Researches, LLC., Pukalani, Hawai‘i.
2006 An Archaeological Preservation Plan for an 18.1-acre Parcel Known as Science City, Haleakala Crater, Papa‘anui Ahupua‘a, Makawao District, Maui Island (TMK: 2-2-07:portion of 8). Prepared for KC Environmental, Inc. Xamanek Researches, LLC., Pukalani, Hawai‘i.
Jones, Lesleigh
2013 Reber Circle, Grote Reber Radio Telescope Site (Haleakala High Altitude Observatory Site), Pukalani Vicinity, Maui Count, Hawaii. Historic American Engineering Report (HAER No. HI-118). National Park Service.
NSF (National Science Foundation)
2009 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Advance Technology Solar Telescope. National Science Foundation, Division of Astronomical Sciences, Arlington.
