Photo from the Micronesian Archaeological Research Services (MARS)

According to early historic accounts about the Mariana Islands, rice (Oryza sativa) was produced in large quantities in pre-Spanish times, and was used as a commodity for trade between islands and later, with the Europeans to obtain metal. Rice, however, is significant archeologically because the Chamorros/CHamorus of the Marianas were the only Pacific Island people who cultivated rice in the tropics dating back to ancient times. Learn more>>>