It has been more than 40 years since the publication of the book The Archaeology of Martha’s Vineyard, which identified a long, rich history of human habitation stretching back at least 4,000 years, “on this relatively unravaged Island.”

Now, finally, the last of the Vineyard’s towns, Tisbury, is moving to find out just where that history may lie, lest it be ravaged accidentally in the future.

Tisbury is seeking $20,000 in a grant under the Community Preservation Act to map its archaeology.

And about time, too, according to those behind the plan.

“My understanding is that all the other towns have done this and we haven’t,” said selectman Tristan Israel.

“Apart from the intrinsic historical value in preserving sites that contain artifacts, it would be really useful for the town and for people planning developments,” he said.

Case in point, Tisbury’s old fire station, which is about to be replaced by the new emergency services building, now being built on West Spring street. The town would like to redevelop the site. There has been talk of a rear access road, along the side of Veterans Memorial Park.

“Archaeological issues are among many that would have to be dealt with to build that road,” said Mr. Israel.

“That whole area surrounding the park is known to contain artifacts. Whether the actual fire station site does we don’t know but things have certainly been found in proximity to that area.”

In fact, when that book came out in 1969, three of the six sites selected for excavation on the Island were in what is now downtown Vineyard Haven, between Five Corners and Hines Point. The memorial park site was identified in the 1969 book as “very extensive . . . one of the largest known to us on Martha’s Vineyard.”

Alas the site — on the rising ground surrounding the park — was in one of the most heavily developed parts of town. Alas also, it had already been extensively mined for artifacts by a local man, who sold most of the ancient relics he found to people off-Island.

Nonetheless, the book noted finds including arrowheads, pottery shards, adzes, and other material in “variously stratified deposits of different cultures and ages . . . fairly characteristic of large and deep sites situated in locales highly favorable for aboriginal occupation.”

And things are still turning up, as Tisbury town administrator, John Bugbee noted.

“When Geoghan Coogan’s law office was excavated in behind Educomp, there were artifacts located,” he said.

“As recently as six months ago when the spring building committee was trying to identify an area where they could locate a sewer system they came across artifacts. The spring was used by the tribes way back in the early habitation of the Vineyard.

“So we know there is stuff here, and it would be much easier to plan if we knew before we started approving projects and planning things that may disrupt what may be existing underground.

“The last thing we would want is come across artifacts in a manner that doesn’t allow us to preserve them and manage them in a way that is responsible and respectful to those interested in preserving that history,” Mr. Bugbee said.

“That’s why the selectmen put a premium on getting a survey done, and pursuing funding through the CPC [Community Preservation Committee].

“It would be great if we could get the town mapped. It would help our planning; it would help developers.”

As to the amount of money the town was seeking, Mr. Bugbee said the figure had been determined “by talking to people including the Mass Historical Commission and some other experts.”

Among them was Steve Perlman, now an innkeeper who owns the Hanover House, but also an archaeologist by training. He did his dissertation research on the Island; his chosen site was at the head of Lagoon Pond.

Mr. Perlman said the proposed mapping project, by mitigating against development conflicts in the future, would be of major benefit to the town.

There had been quite a bit of work done already on identifying sites, he said, but most of it had been done around the ponds.

“There’s stuff all around the Lagoon. But there are things to be found, too, up and away from the water, I’m sure,” he said.

“The Island is such a dynamic place,” he said, referring to the vast changes in ocean levels and shorelines over the time the Island has been inhabited.

Rising sea levels meant that areas once inhabited were now under water, and areas which now were near sea level were once hundreds of feet above it.

“The real issue is what is to be found away from those beachhead areas,” Mr. Perlman said.