Throughout most of the Mariana Islands, a crescent-shaped archipelago in the western North Pacific Ocean near Japan, a peculiar kind of megalithic structure known as Latte Stones are found. Ranging between 4 to 7 feet in height, these erect stones are composed of a base column, called halagi, with a semi-circular bowl-like structure called tasa, at the top. Latte Stones were used as foundations over which the ancient Chamorro people built their homes. The houses were constructed out of wood and had a characteristic A-shaped thatched roof. These houses are generally thought to be for the high ranking or high caste families in the village, although some of the largest latte stones are found in Guam island’s interior where many of the low caste lived.

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