Demystifying the ancient Chamorru

During the observance of Historic Preservation Week (May 21-27 2006), a matter of historical contention arose regarding the ancient Chamorru of the Mariana Islands. The issue put forth concerned assertions that the ancient Chamorru practiced cannibalism and furthermore, that they were a very dark-complected people. This letter provides substantiated information that should serve to clarify any misguided implications that these assertions have made.

As most students of Mariana Islands history are aware, the first documented European contact with the archipelago was through Ferdinand Magellan’s beleaguered expedition in 1521. His chronicler, Pigafetta, noted that the Chamorru were “tawny, but are born white.” Fray Juan Pobre who in 1601 spent seven months with the Chamorru on the island of Luta (Rota) wrote of the indigenous group that. “All are born white but, because they are continually out in the sun and in the water, they become swarthy.” In 1819, Freycinet also commented on the physique of the 19th century Chamorru,”… the natives are swarthy in skin tone, tending to the dark without being extremely so.” Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores himself wrote in 1668, “The Marianos have a yellowish brown skin color, a somewhat lighter shade than that of the Filipinos, and are larger in stature, more corpulent and robust than Europeans, pleasant and with agreeable faces.”

With regard to the issue of cannibalism, there is no archaeological, historical, or ethnographic evidence that the ancient Chamorru engaged in the consumption of human flesh. The archaeological record does show that the ancient Chamorru utilized human bones in the manufacture of tools and weapons and archaeological sites evidence the by-products of such activities.

The reason for this emphasis on the use of human skeletal material is two-fold. Firstly, the natural resources of island environments are extremely limited. Human bones were one of the few reliable resources (shell, stone, wood and clay are the other resources). Secondly, and more importantly, the use of human bones in fashioning such items as fishhooks, spearpoints, and awls to name a few, was also one way of maintaining direct physical contact with the esteemed deceased.

For example, if a noble or matua died and he was known for his great fishing skills, the use of his bones (after complete decomposition of his remains) not only physically kept him in close contact with this family, but he would continually provide for their well being through successful fishing expeditions wherein fish hooks made from his bones are used.

If cannibalism existed, it would certainly be the first cultural element to be documented by the Spanish priests and civil authorities that arrived to “civilize” the indigenous people of these islands. Again, it does not appear in the archaeological, historical, or ethnographic record.

One more thing, early accounts show that the ancient place name for our island of Saipan survived through to the arrival of Magellan’s expedition in 1521 and beyond. Most Spanish documents reference it as “Saypan”. Additionally, the ancient names of all the other islands in the archipelago exist to this day. The current topographical map of the chain incorrectly references the islands of Aguigan (spelled Aguijan on most maps) and Agrigan (erroneously spelled Agrihan). Hopefully such errors will be corrected soon.

Genevieve S. Cabrera
CNMI HPO Historian