HONOLULU -- Workers have indefinitely suspended clearing an Army firing range after an unexploded ordnance cleanup crew last month scattered dirt on a fence protecting a sacred Hawaiian site, officials said Tuesday.

The crew has been digging up mortar and small arms shells dating back almost a century to create a maneuvering ground for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team being formed at Oahu's Schofield Barracks.

But two weeks ago dirt from the crew's bulldozer blades landed on a fence separating a heiau -- a traditional Hawaiian place of worship -- from the field being cleared.

The Army asked contractors to halt the work after hearing complaints from Native Hawaiian groups.

"We have these concerns that were brought up by the cultural monitors and we want these addressed before we proceed," said Troy Griffin, a spokesman for Schofield Barracks.

Griffin said the cultural monitors have further complained about not having greater access to the clearing site to keep track of what the contractors are doing.

He said the cultural monitors were restricted in their visits because of the dangers posed by the ordnance being cleared.

The workers have found World War I era chemical weapons and depleted uranium ammunition from the 1960s while clearing the decades-old firing range.

Lance Foster, who heads a division at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs responsible for protecting traditional rites and practices, said he was disappointed by the incident.

Foster said the Army's live-fire exercises in Makua Valley and this latest development were among a series of events making it difficult for Hawaiians to protect their traditions.

"Hawaiians are just seeing one thing after another, one agreement after another not being followed, and they're tired," said Foster.

He added his office was considering suing the Army if the two sides couldn't fix the problem.

Griffin said the sullied fence was close to 100 feet away from the heiau.

But Foster said it didn't matter how far the fence was from the heiau. He said a heiau was not like a church, which wouldn't be harmed if someone dug up the street in front.

Heiau are placed in a spot because of the mana, or divine power, of an entire land area, he said.

"It's sort of kind of a marker and an enhancer of the sacredness of that piece of land," Foster said.

He added he believed Army leaders sincerely wanted to protect sacred Hawaiian sites but were having trouble implementing their policies.

Even so, Foster said Army leaders and Hawaiian groups had discussions over the issue a few days ago "that seemed to be positive."

The Army hopes to complete construction of the new training ground, a Battle Area Complex, by November 2007. The training ground will be used by the Stryker brigade and other soldiers from Schofield Barracks.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.