SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected Environmenthave included cultural and archaeological monitoring of projects, evaluation of known sites, and archaeologicalsurveys for SBCT project areas and project areas for other planned transformation projectsat all affected USAG-HI ranges.3.1.4.1 Schofield Barracks Military ReservationPrehistoric ContextHawaiians lived in the central plateau of Oahu hundreds of years before European contact. Theboundaries of SBMR correspond roughly to the traditional Hawaiian land unit called Waianae Uka, aland-locked portion of the ahupuaa of Waianae. Waianae Uka was relatively isolated from the rest ofits ahupuaa. As a result, the trail that connected Waianae Uka with Waianae Kai, the coastal portionof the ahupuaa, by way of Kolekole Pass, was of strategic importance. Archaeological evidence indicatesthe presence of traditional Hawaiian agricultural field systems, both dryland and irrigated tarowetland fields (loi) along the streams that flow through SBMR (USAG-HI 2004).Historic ContextEarly historic descriptions indicate that lush native forest covered most of the plateau lands betweenthe stream valley farms. These forests may have been used to hunt birds for food and feathers and togather other upland resources, especially valuable woods such as koa and sandalwood. Between about1816 and 1830, under the direction of the Hawaiian chiefs, these forests were intensively cut to obtainsandalwood for trade to China. Following deforestation, the land was used for animal grazing. After1850, the Crown leased much of the ahupuaa to rancher John Meek to raise cattle, sheep, and horses.In the late 1800s, James Dowsett owned the land that is now the Main Post and operated it as a ranch.After the annexation of Hawaii in 1898, the United States took possession of the property and, in1909, established Schofield Barracks as a base for mobile defense troops. In the late 1930s, defensemobilization increased, and the installation’s population swelled to 20,000. During World War II,SBMR became the Army’s single largest garrison. After the war, the Hawaiian Infantry TrainingCenter was established at SBMR, and upon the end of the Korean War, the 25 th Infantry Division returnedto its home post at SBMR, where it has remained the principal occupant (USAG-HI 2004).ArchaeologyArchaeological sites on Oahu are diverse and may include heiau (religious structures), koa (smallshrines), fishponds, stone markers, fishing shrines, habitation sites, caves and rock shelters, mounds,burial platforms, earth ovens, stone walls and enclosures, agricultural terraces, canals or ditches, rockart sites, and trails. Historic period archaeological sites include gun emplacements, concrete structuresand bunkers, concrete walls, wooden structural remains, masonry platforms, concrete revetments,bermed depressions, berms and rock piles, tunnels, miscellaneous feature complexes, road beds, railroadremnants, and trash deposits (USAG-HI 2004).Archaeological surveys have been completed in the SBMR cantonment area and both ranges. Investigationshave documented at least 217 archaeological sites in 4,151 acres of survey (USAG-HI 2006).Most of the archaeological sites remain unevaluated for eligibility to the NRHP. Until eligibility determinationsare made, all identified cultural resources are being treated as eligible. Archaeologicalsites that have been recommended as not eligible include five historical archaeological sites withinthe cantonment areas relating to military use of the property. No prehistoric sites have been identifiedwithin the cantonment area. Surveys at the Virtual Fighting Training Facility, Tactical Vehicle Wash,Information Systems Facility, and Mission Support Facility did not report any cultural resources.February 2008 3–35 2/25th SBCT Final EIS