Preliminary Report on the Human Skeletal Remains from the Gognga-Gun Beach Project, Tumon Bay, Guam.

This paper reflects work in progress on the preliminary analysis of a large sample of human skeletal remains from the prehistoric Chamorro site at Gognga-Gun Beach on Tumon Bay, Guam.Of the approximately one-hundred discrete burial pits that were recognized in the field, many have yielded multiple inhumations.Combined with the additional human remains excavated from an area within and around a set of Latte stones, the total number of individuals recovered may reach one-hundred fifty.While a minimal number of these skeletons are essentially complete and in a good state of preservation, most of the remains are poorly preserved.However, many individuals have been reconstructed to a suitable state of study.Completeness of each skeleton varies greatly, with vertebral bodies and the articular ends of long bones being common sites of poor preservation.Early data suggested that adult males were drastically under represented, with females of all ages and immature individuals comprising the vast majority of the processed remains.Adult males were eventually found in greater numbers, but remain outnumbered by adult females on the order of 2:1.Given the great degree of sexual dimorphism, these initial assessments of gender appear sound.Preliminary analysis shows that ages range from late foetal development to well over forty years.Estimation of stature in adults (based on Houghton, et al., 1975) has yielded a range of about 152 to 162 cm.(60 to 64 inches) in females, and a range of approximately 173 to 178 cm.(68 to 70 inches) in males.Various pathological and anomalous conditions of both the dentition and skeleton are present in this collection, and are described.