House of Taga

An archaeological site near San Jose Village on Tinian Island, Northern Mariana Islands, featuring prehistoric latte stone pillars unique to the Mariana Islands. The twelve original megaliths stood approximately 15 feet tall, each consisting of a base (haligi) topped with a hemispherical capstone (tasa) designed to prevent rats from entering the elevated wooden house above. Dating to the Latte Era roughly 800 years ago, this is the largest known latte site in the Marianas. Named after a legendary chief of superhuman strength, only one pillar remains standing today, the others toppled by earthquakes and WWII bombardment in 1944. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.