Kalabera Cave

Kalabera Cave
LocationKalabera, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Kalabera Cave is an underground chamber in Kalabera, Saipan. There is a trail, ramp at the cave's entrance, pictographic and petroglyph interpretive panels, prayer or offering area, replica latte huts, and landscaping in the surrounding area.[1]

The site was used as a prehistoric burial site.[2] There are more than forty-five prehistoric petroglyphs and rock engravings in the cave, measuring between 5 and 10 inches in size. Most of the engravings portray headless human figures.[3] During the Battle of Saipan, civilians and combatants hid in the cave and it served as a field hospital.[4][5] Years after the war, ordnance, human belongings, and skeletons were still retrieved 30 to 50 feet from the cave's entrance.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Kalabera Cave development begins". Saipan Tribune. March 31, 2014.
  2. ^ "Kalabera Cave assessment nearly complete—Arriola". Saipan Tribune. December 19, 2008.
  3. ^ "HPO board nominates Kalabera Cave to National Register of historic sites". Saipan Tribune. April 7, 2015.
  4. ^ "Groundbreaking for Kalabera Cave improvement set today". Saipan Tribune. March 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Kalabera Cave assessment nearly complete—Arriola". Saipan Tribune. December 19, 2008.
  6. ^ "Kalabera Cave development begins". Saipan Tribune. March 31, 2014.