Skeletal biology of Apurguan: A precontact Chamorro site on Guam

Abstract

The human skeletal remains of a minimum of 152 individuals from the precontact Latte Period (AD 1000-1521) on Guam, Mariana Islands, are described. The sample, recovered at Apurguan, in the Tamuning District, is one of the largest series of well-provenienced Chamorro skeletal remains to be analyzed in recent years. The size and systematic nature of this database are a major contribution to the human biology of the region. Paleodemographic characteristics, dental and skeletal morphology, and paleopathology are presented, along with a limited examination of sex differences in frequencies of nonmetric variation. The mortuary sample, consisting of 51 subadults and 101 adults, exhibits underrepresentation of females, highest subadult mortality between 2 and 10 years, and an adult average age-at-death of 43.5 years. Cranial and infracranial indices and nonmetric variation are consistent with the Chamorro's Southeast Asian origins. There are few statistically significant sex differences in nonmetric variation which suggests close genetic affinity. The frequency of dental pathology overall is low, reflecting a well-balanced, varied diet, and consistent with preagricultural subsistence; however statistically significant sex differences suggest the influence of differential cultural behaviors or resource access. Paleopathological observations include healed fractures (more common in males), little advanced osteoarthritis, evidence for gouty arthritis, and treponemal disease (yaws). One individual, a young adult male, was interred with 10 human bone spear points in situ. Twenty percent of the primary burials exhibit evidence of postdepositional removal of selected skeletal elements for cultural purposes such as keepsakes or raw material.

From limestone caves to concrete graves: 3000 years of mortuary practice in the Palauan archipelago, Micronesia

“…Other locations in the Marianas continue the tradition of near-shore beach burials, but sites such as Achugao and Matansa on Saipan (Hanson, 1995) and the Uyulan area of Rota (Hanson, 1988;Craib, 1998), derive from the Transitional pre-Latte and pre-Latte periods dating to AD 1 and later. The only other large cemeteries found in Micronesia are from Guam and are associated with the late prehistoric Latte period, post-dating Orrak by 1000-2000 years (Hanson & Butler, 1997;Douglas et al, 1997). 1 Caves used as burial chambers like those found at Sngall Ridge, Ngermereues Ridge, and on Orrak Island comprise a second simple, early mortuary pattern.…”

Subadult stress, morbidity, and longevity in Latte Period populations on Guam, Mariana Islands

“…LEH, infection, and cribra orbitalia. those from the Apurguan site (see Douglas et al, 1997;Pietrusewsky et al, 1992). Compared to the Apurguan subadults, children in this sample have higher frequencies of LEH in deciduous teeth, more treponemal infection, and they had a higher probability of dying through age 14 years (Underwood, 1995).…”

“…Compared to the Apurguan subadults, children in this sample have higher frequencies of LEH in deciduous teeth, more treponemal infection, and they had a higher probability of dying through age 14 years (Underwood, 1995). The substantial difference in LEH frequencies between adults and subadults is not seen in the Apurguan assemblage (Pietrusewsky et al, 1992;Douglas et al, 1997). These apparent differences between the health of contemporaneous communities call for closer examination, as do possible intrasite differences in health patterns.…”

A biocultural perspective on Marianas prehistory: Recent trends in bioarchaeological research

“…The antiquity of yaws in the Marianas was first demonstrated in remains recovered from the island of Tinian in the landmark study by Stewart and Spoehr (1952). Since then, yaws has been identified in skeletal assemblages throughout the Marianas including Guam (Anderson, n.d., Douglas et al, 1997;Pietrusewsky et al, 1997;Rothschild and Heathcote, 1993;Stodder, 1992aStodder, , 1993Stodder et al, 1992;Trembly 1996), Rota (Hanson, 1988Pietrusewsky, 1989b) and Saipan (Hanson, in preparation, a;Tayles and Milburn, 1995;Pietrusewsky et al, 1997).…”

“…Six percent of subadult skeletons aged 6-10 displayed evidence of treponemal infection, while nearly 20% of individuals aged 11-40 displayed these lesions. Finally, in their study of the Latte Period Apurguan remains from the adjacent Agañ a Bay on Guam, Douglas et al (1997) reported that 7% of their sample (n ϭ 152) displayed yaws-like lesions including 2% of the subadults (n ϭ 51) and 9% of the adults (n ϭ 101).…”