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sand containing these archaeological remnants, either within or near sets of lattes. In contrast, the soil in which inland latte stones are placed rarely has an archaeological stratum or associated burial. The implication is that mainland latte sites were temporarily occupied, and perhaps that there was a change in burial practice in the later
304:
By the 18th and 19th centuries, travelers to the
Marianas noted lattes only in abandoned areas, where they had apparently been left after foreign-introduced disease had decimated the Chamorro population. In modern times, latte stones are a symbol of Chamorro identity and are found in a wide variety
296:
have noted a distinct difference between latte stones located along the coast and those located inland. Coastal latte tend to be placed in sand containing extensive relics of habitation, including shards of pottery, fish and animal bones, and stone and shell tools. Human burials were placed within
251:
and served as community meeting places. However, the lack of definitive, consistent evidence means that all theories are disputed. Some archaeologists believe that only high status
Chamorros lived in structures built on latte stones, while others have put forward the theory that all Chamorros in the
246:
on southern Guam. While none of the early
European visitors to the islands appear to have drawn pictures of latte stones in use, several Spanish accounts from the 16th and 17th centuries state that houses were erected on the stones, with one eyewitness specifying that the structures on lattes were
252:
Latte Period lived in latte structures, and that the height and number of the stones in the structure indicated social status. Other structures in a latte village, which may have included cooking huts, canoe houses and public houses for unmarried men, were built on the ground, typically in an
241:
Undisturbed stones are found usually arranged in parallel pairs of between eight and fourteen lattes framing a rectangular space. The more pairs in the structure, the taller the latte stones. One twenty latte arrangement was found in the current location of the military
123:. Typical pillars range in height from 60 centimeters to three meters, and generally narrow towards the top. The pillar was normally quarried and then transported to the construction site. For small to medium-sized lattes, the capstone was a large hemispherical
305:
of government, business and personal contexts. Concrete lattes are sometimes incorporated into new buildings, while residents of the
Marianas will sometimes incorporate actual latte stones into the landscaping around their homes.
205:
The history of the pre-contact
Marianas is usually divided into three periods: Pre-Latte, Transitional Pre-Latte, and Latte. Latte stones began to be used in about 900 A.D. and became increasingly more common until the arrival of
154:, on which they build rice stores, have been pointed out. The rounded capstones help prevent rats from climbing up the pillar. A similar wood post construction appears to be depicted in a relief carving at
474:
Laguana, Andrew; Kurashina, Hiro; Stephenson, Rebecca A. & Iverson, Thomas J. (1999). "Chap. 9, Working Group 3 of
Heritage Tourism and Local Communities". In Nuryanti, Wiendu (ed.).
309:
317:
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210:
in 1521 and
Spanish colonization, when they fell rapidly out of use and were entirely abandoned by about 1700. Latte stones have been found on
298:
165:
Latte stones varied greatly in size. The smallest were several feet tall. The largest latte still standing is 16 feet (5m) tall, located on
215:
146:
of differing construction and purpose are common to
Oceanic cultures. Similarities between the latte stone and the wood posts made by the
162:, which has caused one scholar to put forward the disputed theory of a prehistorical cultural exchange between the Marianas and Java.
219:
684:
670:
982:
492:
285:
453:
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339:
95:. In modern times, the latte stone is seen as a sign of Chamorro identity and is used in many different contexts.
646:
997:
874:
571:
538:
1108:
1123:
487:. Micronesian Archaeological Survey Report. Vol. 32. Saipan: CNMI Division of Historic Preservation.
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177:, quarried latte would have stood 25 feet (8m) high if erected. The largest shaft found here weighs 34
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349:
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344:
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The
Megalithic Heritage Sites of the Marianas: Latte Stones in Past, Present and Future Contexts
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75:
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485:
Tiempon I Manmofo'na: Ancient
Chamorro Culture and History of the Northern Mariana Islands
8:
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Russell, Scott (1998). "Later Cultural Changes and the Emergence of the Latte Builders".
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448:. Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, University of Guam.
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87:) with the flat side facing up. Used as building supports by the ancient
952:
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632:
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478:. Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Gadjah Mada University Press. pp. 259â282.
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155:
120:
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superimpose the route number on a white outline of a latte stone.
922:
914:
502:
Thompson, Laura (1940). "The Function of Latte in the Marianas".
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265:
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227:
139:
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Archaeologists who have worked in the Marianas since the end of
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198:
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71:
59:
430:
124:
551:
248:
211:
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128:
32:
178:
19:
444:
Carter, Lee; Carter, Rosa & Wuerch, William (1997).
234:, as well as several small northern islands, such as
443:
142:the latte stone is unique to the Marianas, though
423:"From the Ancient Past: The Latte Stones of Guam"
1100:
312:for both Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
79:
978:National Register of Historic Places listings
532:
216:Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
446:Guam History: Perspectives Volume One: MARC
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381:
379:
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135:were instead quarried, like the pillars.
501:
362:
279:
188:
102:
91:, they are found throughout most of the
18:
482:
107:Reconstruction of latte stone structure
1101:
420:
181:while the largest cap weighs 22 tons.
546:
520:
387:
416:
414:
412:
410:
286:Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands
983:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agaña
275:
13:
1000:(Shared with the Northern islands)
466:
131:. The massive capstones found in
14:
1135:
504:Journal of the Polynesian Society
407:
318:Northern Mariana Islands highways
340:South Finegayan Latte Stone Park
214:and the southern islands in the
111:Latte stones have been made of
98:
85:code: cha promoted to code: ch
998:Cuisine of the Mariana Islands
437:
308:A latte stone features on the
127:head that was gathered from a
1:
390:"Contents of a Latte Village"
355:
1032:Marine Corps Base Camp Blazâ
16:Historical building supports
7:
323:
10:
1140:
1078:Guam Regional Medical City
1065:
1007:
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820:
712:
623:
570:
558:
350:Northern Marianas Islands
671:Census-designated places
1020:Andersen Air Force Base
388:Craib, John L. (2014).
345:Rota Latte Stone Quarry
1073:Guam Memorial Hospital
875:Elective Governor Acts
845:1856 smallpox epidemic
289:
202:
184:
108:
80:
67:
35:
1015:Joint Region Marianas
886:Guam v. United States
840:SpanishâChamorro Wars
421:Villaverde, Rudolph.
283:
256:of wood poles, often
192:
106:
22:
1109:Megalithic monuments
1124:Rock art of Oceania
1083:Naval Hospital Guam
1052:Naval Hospital Guam
860:Japanese occupation
777:Mongmong-Toto-Maite
427:Guam Ultimate Guide
1119:Outdoor sculptures
290:
288:centers on a latte
208:Ferdinand Magellan
203:
109:
36:
1096:
1095:
1088:COVID-19 pandemic
993:Underwater diving
737:Chalan Pago-Ordot
494:978-1-8784-5330-3
64:Chamorro language
23:A latte stone in
1131:
865:2nd U.S. capture
855:Japanese capture
787:SĂ„nta Rita-Sumai
704:Two Lovers Point
693:Jumullong Manglo
541:
534:
527:
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511:
498:
479:
460:
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441:
435:
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429:. Archived from
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335:Latte Stone Park
310:US quarter coins
276:Cultural context
247:used to shelter
86:
83:
25:Latte Stone Park
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1128:
1114:Culture of Guam
1099:
1098:
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1042:Radio Barrigada
1037:Naval Base Guam
1025:Northwest Field
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905:Chamorro Nation
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699:Orote Peninsula
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467:Further reading
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330:History of Guam
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314:Highway shields
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93:Mariana Islands
89:Chamorro people
84:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1057:Ordnance Annex
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433:on 2005-10-29.
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244:Ordnance Annex
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70:) capped by a
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148:Ifugao people
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72:hemispherical
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21:
962:
884:
850:U.S. capture
676:Cocos Island
585:Demographics
560:
507:
503:
484:
475:
445:
439:
431:the original
426:
397:. Retrieved
393:
307:
303:
299:Latte Period
294:World War II
291:
240:
218:, including
204:
164:
137:
110:
99:Construction
55:
51:
47:
43:
42:, or simply
39:
37:
963:Latte stone
953:Guam Museum
927:Kaddon pika
919:Fina'denne'
870:Organic Act
830:Earthquakes
633:Apra Harbor
152:Philippines
40:latte stone
1103:Categories
1066:Healthcare
911:Chalakiles
797:Talo'fo'fo
727:AsanâMaina
605:Government
356:References
268:fronds or
264:of grass,
1047:NCTS Guam
909:Cuisine (
732:Barrigada
685:Mountains
625:Geography
595:Geography
565:(capital)
548:Territory
394:Guampedia
156:Borobodur
144:megaliths
121:sandstone
113:limestone
947:Tinaktak
943:Roskette
935:Kelaguen
835:Typhoons
802:Tamuning
792:Sinajana
767:Mangilao
762:InalÄhan
714:Villages
651:Talofofo
324:See also
316:marking
272:fronds.
58:), is a
988:Schools
931:Kalamai
923:Guyuria
915:Estufao
897:Culture
822:History
772:Malesso
757:HumÄtak
752:HagÄtña
661:Beaches
610:History
600:Geology
590:Economy
562:HagÄtña
399:Jan 11,
266:coconut
260:, with
254:A-frame
228:Aguijan
169:at the
150:in the
140:Oceania
76:capital
29:HagÄtña
939:Latiya
742:Dededo
689:Lamlam
680:Lagoon
637:Bays (
572:Topics
491:
452:
258:bamboo
232:Saipan
230:, and
224:Tinian
201:, 1902
199:Tinian
173:. In
167:Tinian
117:basalt
74:stone
68:haligi
60:pillar
46:(also
1008:Bases
968:Music
747:HĂ„gat
655:Tumon
249:proas
236:Pagan
125:coral
119:, or
56:latdi
54:, or
52:latti
48:latde
44:latte
812:Yona
807:Yigo
782:Piti
678:and
647:Piti
643:Pago
639:Agat
552:Guam
489:ISBN
450:ISBN
401:2015
284:The
270:nipa
220:Rota
212:Guam
193:The
179:tons
175:Rota
160:Java
133:Rota
129:reef
81:tasa
33:Guam
550:of
197:on
185:Use
138:In
1105::
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