Archaeological survey and testing at the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave site (50-10-30-5004), Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Author:

Haun, Alan E., Rosendahl, Paul H., United States Army Corps of Engineers. Honolulu District,

Title:

Archaeological survey and testing at the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave site (50-10-30-5004), Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Periodical:

PTA

Year:

1986

Pages:

127 + 4 leaves

Subject:

Archaeological surveying Pohakuloa Archaeological surveying North Kona District Pohakuloa antiquities North Kona District antiquities Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA)

Summary:

On December 17, 1985, Paul H. Rosendahl, Ph.D., Inc. (PHRI) completed archaeological survey and test excavations field work at the Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave Site (50-10-30-5004) and surrounding kipuka, Pohakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii (Contract No. DACA83-85-C-0176). The field work consisted of three phases: a combined 100% aerial coverage and sample ground coverage reconnaissance survey conducted on November 4, 1985; a 100% ground coverage intensive archaeological survey of Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave Kipuka carried out from November 18 to 27, 1985; and test excavations conducted between December 2 and 17, 1985. The field work involved a total of approximately 85 man-days of labor. The combined aerial and ground reconnaissance survey and the intensive archaeological survey identified 13 new sites (T-101 thru T-112), in addition to the previously identified Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave Site (Site 5004). Sites and component features consist of sinks (collapsed segments of lave tubes) with one or more associated caves usually containing cultural remains, cairns, terraces, level areas, firepits, trails, a lithic source area (volcanic glass), a platform, a mound. Test excavations were conducted at three sites: Bobcat Trail Habitation Cave (eight test units), Site T-107 (one test unit), and Site T-101 (one test unit). Over 800 artifacts were recovered from the excavations and/or collected from surface contexts, including abraders, pestles, volcanic glass flakes and cores, hammerstones, modified shell, cordage, matting, worked wood and wood chips, gourds (complete and fragmentary), probable sandal fragments, a metal button, and leather fragments. The test excavations also produced abundant midden remains, primarily bird bone, and minor amounts of shell, fish bone, and mammal bone. A total of ten charcoal samples and 25 pieces of volcanic glass were submitted for age determination analyses. The results indicate that Bobcat Habitation Cave and kipuka was utilized from about the mid-11th century to the historic period, with the most intensive period of occupation occurring between the mid-12th to mid-18th centuries.

Collection:

EIS