1. Ritidian Latte Village and
Cave Paintings
By: Jeremy Kennon
ANTH 345 6380
World Prehistory and Archaeology (2152)
University of Maryland University College
APA

2. Overview
 Introduction
 Method and Theory
 Public Outreach
 Important Issues
 Conclusion
 References

3. Introduction - Region
 Guam
 Dimensions
 30 Miles Long
 12 Miles Wide
 Population
 +150,000
 Ethnic Groups
 Chamorro (37.3%)
 Filipino (26.3%)
 Others (-7% each)

4. Introduction – Period of
Village
 Archaeological investigations
 Site occupied 3,300 years ago
 Fishing grounds
 Latte Period
 800 – 1521 A.D.
Latte Stone,
Hagatna, GU

5. Method and Theory
 Archaeologists
 Dr. Mike T. Carson
 Prior assistant professor at the archaeology office of the
Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center
(MARC), University of Guam (UOG)
 More than 60 contract-funded and grant-funded
research projects
 Dr. Rosina Iping
 Research scientist at Catholic University of America in
Washington

6. Method and Theory
 Latte Sets
 Archaeologist studied
 Food preparation patterns
 Tool manufacturing patterns
 Water/food storage
 Discarded food remains
 Archaeologist found
 Pieces of metal
 Chinese porcelain
 European glass beads
Archaeologist found
remains that indicate the
prior existence of a Spanish
church.

7. Method and Theory
 Theories
 1999 – Dr Iping
 Associated the pictographs
in the Ritidian cave, now
referred to as Starcave, to
the ancient stars
 Based on navigational
practices of Micronesians
(Villaverde, n.d.)

8. Method and Theory
 Dr. Carson
 Early inhabitants of the cave
were anglers - Radiocarbon
 Latte Period
 Surviving artifacts from
Spanish occupation period
 Late latte period near the
end of latte use
 Latte more ceremonial

9. Public Outreach
 Online Resources
 http://www.guampedia.com/ancient-village-
ritidian-litekyan-
2/#Archeological_field_work_at_Ritidian
 Sign for the church remains
 No sign for the caves

10. Important Issues
 Site not protected.
 A fence with a gate in place to stop
damage to cave.
 Fence is 20 feet long and laying down
in open field
 Signs to keep out only visible from
hiking trail
 People do not have to take hiking trail
 Humidity from visitors contributes to
destruction of cave art.

11. Important Issue
 Make site identifiable
 Community policing
 Reward for information

12. Conclusion
 Method and Theory
 Public Outreach
 Important Issue

13. References
 Carson, M. (2014, September 19). Ritidian
(Litekyan). Guampedia. Retrieved March 1, 2015,
from http://www.guampedia.com/ancient-village-
ritidian-litekyan-2/
 Central Intelligence Agency (2014, June 10). World
Fact Book: Guam. Central Intelligence Agency.
Retreived March 1, 2015, from
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-
world-factbook/geos/gq.html

14. References Cont.
 Deutsch, G. (2005, November 1). NASA Satellite
Detects Massive Star Partner. National
Aeronautical Space Administration. Retrieved
March 1, 2015, from
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/nov/
HQ_05353_massive_star.html
 Geography of Guam. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from
http://ns.gov.gu/geography.html

15. References
 Ridgell, C. (2014, December 11). Ancient Chamorro
village “re-discovered” in Ritidian wildlife refuge
below proposed firing range. Pacific News Center.
Retrieved March 1, 2015, from
http://www.pacificnewscenter.com/guam/item/1
200-large-latte-site-re-discovered-in-ritidian-
wildlife-refuge
 Villaverde, R. (n.d.). Guam Starcave Part I at
ns.gov.gu. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from
http://guam.org.gu/starcave/