A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America, “Archaeology” May-June 2011 edition talks about the archaeology of World War II which includes the Battle of Saipan.
Highlighted in the article was the work of Ships of Discovery maritime archaeologist and Flinders University lecturer Dr. Jennifer McKinnon.
In an interview with Variety, McKinnon confirmed that the magazine is an authority in the field.
She said it “is the premier public archaeology magazine in the world.”
She said in an email to this reporter, “Ships of Discovery were very excited to have our and the HPO’s efforts highlighted in it. Quite a bit of exposure comes from being highlighted in the magazine and online.”
The magazine features the underwater heritage trail project funded through the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Program and led by McKinnon.
For the online edition, the magazine has a footage of the WWII relics as well as a slideshow featuring the major underwater heritage sites identified by McKinnon and her group.
Among the relics shown in the slide show and video footage are TBM avenger, Daihatsu Class landing craft, nose gun turret of an H8K Kawanishi aircraft with machine gun in place, fuselage of the said Japanese aircraft and its painted surface intact, an Aichi E13A aircraft, remains of the Japanese ship Shoan Maru sunk by U.S. torpedo, an LVT or landing vehicle tracked—an amphibious tractor, and M4 Sherman tank used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps during WWII.
Based on “Archaeology,” these sites are being investigated and documented in an effort to understand how they were involved in the Battle of Saipan.
The Battle of Saipan happened on June 15, 67 years ago.
For the editors of Archaeology Magazine, “The study of World War II is at a critical juncture. We are now at a time when both veterans and civilians who participated in and lived through the war — on the battlefield and on the home front — are passing away in greater numbers. With their deaths, the chance to hear their stories and learn from their experiences disappears as well.”
The editors said archaeology has stories to tell and can illuminate things that are not revealed elsewhere but are not being recognized.
“The archaeology of this world-changing time supplements these memories, and in some cases tells us stories we would never know otherwise,” the editors added.
McKinnon told Variety that they hope there’ll be more of this kind of coverage for the region and the work they do here in Micronesia.
“I hope that soon we will be able to do the same in travel and dive magazines,” McKinnon said.
Archaeology Magazine editor in chief Claudia Valentino wrote in her prefatory message that one of the central experiences of being human, which some might say is a misdirected aspect of our will, is that of war. She said, “ ‘Archaeology of World War II,’ provides a comprehensive look at the world’s most extensive conflict. Here we encounter the unexpected ways archaeology is reconstructing not only the physical artifacts of war, but also the human stories that are so much a part of it.”
For more photos and articles on archaeology, read the online edition of the magazine: www.archaeology.org/1105/features/world_war_II_pacific.html.
