2008 Woodie Awards
State archaeologist digs up history
Laura Smith
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
How often do you get to dig up bones from a grave?
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni gets to whenever he is needed. He has been the Conn. State Archaeologist for over 20 years.
Bellantoni came to Sacred Heart University on Monday, Apr. 14 to discuss his experience with digging up the grave of Hawaiian, Henry Opukaha'ia.
"This is just another piece of Connecticut and U.S. history that was lost and then rediscovered," said Dr. Charlotte Gradie, history professor.
Bellantoni is not only the state archaeologist, but he also teaches at the University of Connecticut and contributes to the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and the Connecticut Archaeology Center.
"His duties are many, but primarily include the preservation of archaeological sites in the state [Conn.]," said Dr. Luc Litwinionek, anthropology professor. "His research background is the analysis of skeletal remains from eastern North America."
Bellantoni told the audience about his experience with archaeology and how he became involved in the removal of Henry Obookiah from the Cornwall, Conn. cemetery.
The presentation was titled, "The Life, Death, Exhumation and Reburial of Opukaha'ia (Henry Obookiah 1792-1818): First Christianized Native Hawaiian."
According to Bellantoni, Opukaha'ia was from the village of Ka'u near Punalu'u- this was a tribe from the main island of Hawaii. When Opukaha'ia was 12 years old, his village was attacked- his parents were killed and he attempted to flee with his infant brother, but Opukaha'ia was the only one who survived in his family. A warrior who attacked the village captured him and took him to live with his family and later met his maternal uncle who was a Kahuna (priest) and started to learn the priesthood.
While Opukaha'ia was living with his uncle, "The Triumph," a ship from N.Y. sailed into the bay in Kona, Hawaii. The American captain allowed Opukaha'ia after some arguments with his uncle to join him on his journey back to the U.S.
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni gets to whenever he is needed. He has been the Conn. State Archaeologist for over 20 years.
Bellantoni came to Sacred Heart University on Monday, Apr. 14 to discuss his experience with digging up the grave of Hawaiian, Henry Opukaha'ia.
"This is just another piece of Connecticut and U.S. history that was lost and then rediscovered," said Dr. Charlotte Gradie, history professor.
Bellantoni is not only the state archaeologist, but he also teaches at the University of Connecticut and contributes to the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and the Connecticut Archaeology Center.
"His duties are many, but primarily include the preservation of archaeological sites in the state [Conn.]," said Dr. Luc Litwinionek, anthropology professor. "His research background is the analysis of skeletal remains from eastern North America."
Bellantoni told the audience about his experience with archaeology and how he became involved in the removal of Henry Obookiah from the Cornwall, Conn. cemetery.
The presentation was titled, "The Life, Death, Exhumation and Reburial of Opukaha'ia (Henry Obookiah 1792-1818): First Christianized Native Hawaiian."
According to Bellantoni, Opukaha'ia was from the village of Ka'u near Punalu'u- this was a tribe from the main island of Hawaii. When Opukaha'ia was 12 years old, his village was attacked- his parents were killed and he attempted to flee with his infant brother, but Opukaha'ia was the only one who survived in his family. A warrior who attacked the village captured him and took him to live with his family and later met his maternal uncle who was a Kahuna (priest) and started to learn the priesthood.
While Opukaha'ia was living with his uncle, "The Triumph," a ship from N.Y. sailed into the bay in Kona, Hawaii. The American captain allowed Opukaha'ia after some arguments with his uncle to join him on his journey back to the U.S.
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