CULTURAL SEQUENCE , RADIOCARBON DATING, &SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ON GUAM

John RazLiana De SotoJomar SorioMarco Rubio

5th Period

CULTURAL SEQUENCE

● Archaeologists have discovered that the Mariana Islands were settled by people from Southeast Asia about 4,000 years ago.

● Chamorros had similarities between the artifacts in the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Indonesia, and mainland Southeast Asia.

● The skeletal remains, customs, and plants of ancient Chamorros were similar to those in Southeast Asia.

● Linguists have stated that the Chamorro language comes from Southeast Asia.

RADIOCARBON DATING● Archaeologists know that ancient Chamorros settled in the Marianas

4,000 years ago by using radiocarbon dating.

● They radiocarbon date pieces of bone, shell, and charcoal.

● All living things contain some radiocarbon (C14). When organisms die, the C14 will decay into nitrogen (N14).

● Half of the C14 will decay in 5,730 (not exact). The 5,730 years is plus or minus 40 years. The remaining half of C14 will disappear in another 5,730 years and so on.

Compare radiocarbon dating to:

a man walking with a hole in his pocket. We know he started with 64 pennies (units of carbon 14) in his pocket. Every step (or 200 years) he will lose half the money (or carbon 14) 1 step: 32 pennies. 2 steps: 16 pennies So if he had 8 pennies in his pocket, you’d know that he took 3 steps If each step is 300 years, you’d know it took 900 years to get to the 8 pennies ( or carbon 14)

Layers & Artifcats

LAYERS & ARTIFACTS● The deeper the artifacts are underground, the older they are.

● There are several strata deposited on the limestone bedrock. These layers are formed as either sand, dust, and debris from humans.

● The layers are separated by deposits that formed when a previous village was abandoned or when a storm washes over a village site.

● The top layers of ancient Chamorros normally contain the latte stones, pottery fragments, shell and stone tools, slingstones, and fishhooks.

● Towards the bottom of layer 1, the the pottery styles changes because it was probably the Pre-latte Period.

● Most Pre-latte Period artifatcs of ancient Chamorros are found in Layers II and through VIII.

● The layers where there are not many artifacts, but mostly sand (2,4,&6) are the results of supertyphoons.

● Evidence of human life on Guam is found on layer 8, which was formed about 1485 B.C.

Settlement Patterns

SETTLEMENT PATTERNS ON GUAM

The most important archaeologist sites on Guam are various places near the shore (since this is where most islanders settled because of the resources available) About 150 different village sites have been found on Guam.

During the Latte Period, because of a change in sea level, settlement moved in two directions: seaward to a new beach or inland because of the increased population.

Super-typhoons (like in layer 2) disturbed the large population’s food source for there were not enough fish to provide. That’s when the islanders started deep sea fishing.

During the same time period, trade increased among the Pacific, which was how rice was introduced to the Chamorros who were desperate to feed their growing population.

Where rice could be grown was valuable land for the swampy areas would grow a lot of rice in just a small part. This resulted in warfare, evidence being the creation of sling stones. Their custom is to share food, so the islanders must have thought the land was necessary for their survival.

LATTE STONES The building of huge stone monuments in the Pacific increased. Since

most trees were destroyed in the super-typhoon, Chamorros turned to stone structures for house supports.

Theorized reasons for latte stones: Shock absorbers from tremors and typhoons Prevented rodents and crabs Wooden pillars rot in Marianas islands’ climate Breeze under the house, Protected from mud Intimidates attackers

The tallest standing latte stones are on Tinian up to 16ft. tall. The never finished latte stones on Rota weighed over 24 tons. Overall, latte houses were long lasting structures that provided protection, ventilation, and prestige.

Questions

The Marianas Islands were settled by people from where?

-Southeast Asia

What is measured through radiocarbon dating?-C14

Why did Chamorros have to move to settle in two different directions, resulting in a settlement at a new beach or inland villages?-There was to large of a population, and they had to move because of a change in sea level.

What did the evidence of the creation of sling stones prove?

- That there was warfare at that time. (mostly for of the lack of food, large population, and chance for survival.)

Name two benefits/uses for latte stones.

- (any) shock absorber, prevents rodents, wooden pillars would rot, ventilation, protection from mud, prestige, long lasting.