Throughout virtually of the Mariana Islands , a crescent-shaped archipelago inward the western North Pacific Ocean nigh Nippon , a peculiar form of megalithic construction known equally Latte Stones are found. Ranging betwixt four to vii feet inward meridian , these erect stones are composed of a base of operations column , called halagi , amongst a semi-circular bowl-like construction called tasa , at the top. Latte Stones were used equally foundations over which the ancient Chamorro people built their homes. The houses were constructed out of forest in addition to had a feature A-shaped thatched roof. These houses are to a greater extent than oft than non idea to hold upwardly for the high ranking or high caste families inward the hamlet , although roughly of the largest latte stones are constitute inward Guam island’s interior where many of the depression caste lived.
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The elevated floors , which were supported past times the latte stones , acre provided residents shelter from floods , piece too keeping the buildings dry out in addition to cool past times enabling air to circulate nether the house. It is too provided a shaded workspace beneath. What’s unclear , notwithstanding , is the foreign shape of the latte stones. Archeologists propose the two-part latte stones —pillar in addition to cap— may convey acted equally a stupor absorber in addition to protected the edifice during an earthquake. The cap extending upwardly in addition to outward from the pillar may convey acted equally a barrier for crabs in addition to vermin trying to climb into the identify for nutrient or shelter.
Building of latte stones mightiness too convey been influenced past times social customs. This supposition tin hold upwardly drawn from the uncovering of human burials either inside or nigh sets of lattes located nigh shorelines. Such burials are precisely absent inward latte stones constitute inland.
The latte stones were believed to convey been built betwixt 800 AD to 1700 AD. By that fourth dimension , Castilian colonization of the Mariana Islands had begun in addition to many latte sites were destroyed past times the invaders. Foreign diseases in addition to warfare decimated Guam in addition to the remainder of the Marianas population. The Castilian government in addition to then forced upon the local population a reformation procedure past times which they tried to taught the Chamorros the European means of life. The practise of buildings houses atop latte stones was abandoned equally many Chamorro members embraced the changes. Today , the latte stones are constitute inward the abandoned villages , equally a reminder of the Chamorro people’s ancient means of life. In modern times , they convey drib dead a symbol of Chamorro’s identity.
Photo credit: theguamguide.com
Photo credit: R Mendez/Flickr
Photo credit: Michael Lusk/Flickr
One of the largest latte rock e'er attempted lay unfinished at the Rota Latte Stone Quarry. Photo credit: Peter/Flickr
Sources: Wikipedia / GuamPedia.com