Organization and Differentiation within Late Prehistoric Ranked Social Units, Mariana Islands, Western Pacific

Abstract

Architectural features can potentially provide information on the organization of prehistoric societies, as is here illustrated by megalithic structures from the Mariana Islands of the western Pacific. Known locally as latte, these features were constructed by prehistoric Chamorro groups and are reliably dated to a period as early as 1000–1100 A.C. They were still being built and used at the time of Spanish contact in 1565 A.C. Mortuary data and an analysis of prehistoric materials associated with latte sets lend support to the hypothesis that these structures were constructed for domestic purposes by kin-based corporate groups whose members were hierarchically ranked by status. The physical dimensions of latte, however, vary considerably and provide evidence for the relative size and rank of the corporate groups that built them. The rapid diffusion of latte architecture in this region may reflect the advantages of this type of organization as competition for food resources and prestige among kin groups was heightened in the late prehistoric period.

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