Archaeological research in Palau has had a relatively long history for Micronesia; it began with Hisakatsu's work in 1929 (Hisakatsu 1997) and continued with Osborne's research from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s (Osborne 1979). Numerous other archaeological investigations have been carried out in the past 30 years, especially by researchers from Japan and the U.S., significantly contributing to what we now know of Palauan prehistoric and historic archaeology. A research and teaching relationship between the Palau Division of Cultural Affairs (DCA; also known as the Historic Preservation Program) and Southern Illinois University in the 1980s also had a major impact in increasing knowledge of Palauan archaeology and ethnography (Gumerman et al. 1980). More recently, much of the archaeological work has been done by the HPO staff or private contractors hired to do reconnaissance and semi-intensive investigations for larger infrastructure projects such as the Rural Water System (Beardsley 1996), the Palau National Communications Corporation fiber optic lines (Wickler 1996), and the Babeldaob Compact Road (Wickler 1994).

A lack of financial resources, time, and other commitments has limited Palauan involvement with the actual fieldwork done by other archaeologists. With some recent changes in office personnel, increasing permit requests for development projects, and the need to complete its own 3-year plan for archaeological site inventory, the HPO Archaeology and Survey staff needed to upgrade field techniques related to archaeological mapping, surveying, and site recording. A training project undertaken by the University of Oregon has helped remedy this situation. With financial help from the Sasakawa Foundation and the East-West Center, Honolulu, we set out to conduct training projects that were both informative and useful, focusing on the fundamental skills required for producing maps and effectively surveying archaeological sites. The organization of this project also fit into the long-range goals of the 5-year plan developed by Fitzpatrick and Kanai (1997) for the DCA in forming cooperative relationships with other researchers and universities.

Project Aims
The basic purpose of these projects was to help develop field archaeology skills useful for historic preservation and cultural resource management and at the same time to provide new archaeological data on the prehistory of Palau. The specific aim was to provide assistance for training employees in the Palau government whose responsibilities include developing archaeological site inventories and records, conserving historic and traditional cultural sites, and approving permits. Historic Preservation officers and staff participated in the training component.

Acknowledgements
The training projects have been supported by the Sasakawa Foundation, Japan, the East-West Center's Pacific Islands Development Program, Hawaii, and the University of Oregon and was coordinated with Dr. Yosihiko Sinoto, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Hawaii. Ms. Victoria N. Kanai, the Chief of the Historic Preservation Office in the Division of Cultural Affairs, was the key administrator for Palau.
The Palau participants included: Ms. Rita Olsudong, MA, Staff Archaeologist for the Palau HPO; Mr. Florencio Gibbons, Palau HPO, Staff Historian; Mr. Walter R. Metes, Palau HPO, National Register; Mr. Thomas Techur, Palau HPO, Archaeological Surveyor; Mr. Calvin Emesiochel, Palau HPO, Archaeological Surveyor; Mr. Errolflynn Kloulechad, Archaeological Surveyor; Melson Miko, Staff Ethnographer; Ms. Vanessa Roth, Belau National Museum, Intern, Australian Volunteer, and also a number of representatives from the Koror State Historic Preservation Office who observed and participated during part of the 1998 training project. We thank all the Palau office staff for their encouragement and participation. Also, Mr. Fritz Koshiba, Director of the Bureau of Land and Surveys, was helpful in arranging for use of surveying equipment and in encouraging closer interaction between Land and Surveys and the Palau HPO.

Palau Bibliography

Beardsley, F. R.
1996	Fragments of Paradise: Archaeological Investigations in the Republic of Palau Rural Water System Survey and Testing. Report submitted to Winzler and Kelly, Consulting Engineers, Agana Guam and Koror, Palau. Honolulu: International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc.
Gumerman, George, David Snyder, and W. Bruce Masse
1980	An Archaeological Reconnaissance in the Palau Archipelago, Western Caroline Islands, Micronesia. Research Paper No. 23. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University.
Gilliland, C.L.C.
1975	The Stone Money of Yap. Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology, No. 23, Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.
Hisakatsu, H.
1997	The Collective Works of Hijikata Hisakatsu. Tokyo: Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Johannes, Robert E.
1981	Words of the Lagoon. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Osborne, Douglas
1966	The Archaeology of the Palau Islands: An intensive Survey. Bulletin 230. Honolulu: Bernice P. Bishop Museum.
1979	Archaeological Test Excavations, Palau Islands 1968-1969. Micronesica Supplement 1. Guam.
Snyder, David, Bruce Masse, and George Gumerman
n.d.	Palaun community archaeology. Paper read at the XVth Pacific Science Congress, 1983. ms.
Wickler, S.
n.d.	Archaeological Site Inspection and Evaluation PNCC Telecommunications System (Outlying Areas), Babeldaob, Peleliu, Angaur, and Kayangel Islands, Republic of Palau. Report Prepared for PNCC, Koror, Palau. Honolulu: International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc., 1996.
Wickler, S.
n.d.	Archaeological Inventory, Survey, Damage Assessment, and Mitigation Plan for Sites T-97, T-98, and T-99, Babeldaob Road Project, Ngaraard State, Republic of Palau. Report submitted to Winzler and Kelly, Consulting Engineers, Agana, Guam and Koror, Palau. Honolulu: International Archaeological Research Institute, Inc. 1994.