page_title: House of Taga
section_title: The structures
hierarchical_section_title: House of Taga / The structures
caption_attribution_description: Fallen latte stones at Taga House, Tinian, Marianas Islands with adult male figure for scale
context_page_description: The House of Taga is an archeological site located near San Jose Village, on the island of Tinian, United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, in the Marianas Archipelago. The site is the location of a series of prehistoric latte stone pillars which were quarried about 4,000 feet south of the site, only one of which is left standing erect due to past earthquakes. The name is derived from a mythological chief named Taga, who is said to have erected the pillars as a foundation for his own house.
context_section_description: The prehistoric latte stone pillars (also called taga stones) at House of Taga stood 15 feet (4.6 m) high, and were quarried about 4,000 feet (1,200 m) south of the site. The original megaliths consisted of a base (haligi) and a hemispherical cap (tasa). When uprighted in spaced parallel rows, it is believed a house was built on top. Of the twelve upright stones sketched by British explorer George Anson during his 1742 visit to Tinian, only one remains standing.  The As Nieves Rota Latte Stone Quarry is believed to be the Marianas origin of the period of these megalith structures.
caption: Fallen stones at House of Taga
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