Recognizing Inland Expansion of Latte Period Agriculture From Multi-Disciplinary Data on Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Abstract

ABSTRACT Archaeological investigations at the West Tinian Airport in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have revealed evidence of inland forest clearing and associated occupation at approximately AD 1155, near the beginning of the prehistoric Latte Period. Radiocarbon dated charred Cocos nucifera nutshell from a shallow feature within a thin organic cultural horizon suggests short-term occupation of a low limestone bench above nearby clay loam soils. While direct evidence of cultivars was not encountered within the feature or on its ceramics, pollen in the soils from Cycas, Hibiscus, a non-Cocos palm family, and wetland sedge Pseudoschizaea suggest native limestone forest resources were being exploited. Clearing of this forest was suggested by the presence of macerated cellulose tissue, an unidentified starch granule, and multi-lobate fiber phytoliths on two polished basalt adzes, plus abundant charcoal in the pollen sample, one indicator of agriculture often cited in the Marianas. Three possible postholes perhaps from an insubstantial structure built on the clay loam nearby suggest this site represents a swidden field camp. The presence of quartzose hybrid sand temper in two ceramic sherds from the feature, and quartz-free volcanic sand temper in two other sherds, indicates early inland expansion of agriculture on Tinian occurred within an era of contact with Saipan and Guam, respectively.