Latte stones scatter throughout the 2,000 year old site and mortar stones used for grinding meals or medicine. Near the ancient village are a freshwater cave and also a cliffline where the villagers fished daily and where residents go to in the present day.
On Sunday, this reporter joined Joe Quinata, chief program officer of the Guam Preservation Trust, Quinata’s sons Lazaro and Xavier, Mark Duarte and Sahara Defensor, staffers of Speaker Judy Won Pat’s Office, as well as Lynn Donofrio and her son Robert Reyes on a hike to the ancient village and its surrounding areas.
The hike down to the site would be listed as rather difficult and took about 30 to 45 minutes. The entrance itself is blocked off along Route 15 and hikers have to walk along a trail.
Quinata occasionally stopped and explained the significance of certain parts of the hike. Once the group was off the path, they climbed over rocks and eventually came across the village. The mortar stones and fallen latte stones can be seen throughout the site.
About 100 feet away is the entrance to a freshwater cave the Chamorros who lived in the village came to for water. Entering the cave is another climb down some rocks, slippery from the moistness of the limestone. On the landing, the group entered the cold water and made their way toward the dark interior, with flashlights.
One of Quinata’s sons pointed at a land crab crawling underneath the water. Quinata noticed it headed further into the cave and said “If you notice something unusual like that, that means a Taotaomona is guiding you.”
As the group waded in the water, they were met with candle wax floating on the surface. In the main interior, there were more wax dripping down and a candle on top of a stalagmite that appeared to have broken down.
Quinata was disheartened at the scene, which resulted from previous groups who entered without a flashlight.
Water source
“Residents have to be aware that touching stalactites and stalagmites can deteriorate them. It takes years for them to develop,” Quinata said, adding that groups should respect that it is sacred ground.
It is the only freshwater source in the area aside from Marbo Cave located in Sasayan valley, he said.
Marbo Cave unfortunately has fallen prey to vandalism and pollution because of a public access road that was constructed in the area several years ago.
After about 20 minutes of enjoying the pool, the group set out and headed towards the cliff area where it is believed the villagers went fishing. The group retraced their steps and followed the path back up and over the rocks, but not without taking breaks to rest because of the climb. The overall hike was nearly five hours.
The hike is not the first for Quinata, who had done about three prior to Sunday’s excursion. He said he’s also guided dignitaries, park rangers, and teachers, and people who were curious and have called him.
“I’ve also done guided over the cell phone,” he said.
He advises residents who go down to Pagat not to take any artifacts with them.
“Please leave them,” he said. “It’s just an overall respect of the area and it is an ancestral site.”
Endangered
It is the site’s historical significance that helped make it into the National Historical Preservation Trusts’ 11 most endangered historical sites for 2010. The ancient village is identified in the draft environmental impact statement as a potential training ground for the military.
On Saturday night, the Guam Preservation Trust hosted a save historic Pagat village ceremony at Skinner Plaza in celebration of the ancient site.
Among the speakers at the event was Mike Makio, chairman of the board of the Guam Preservation Trust, who encouraged residents to sign the petition seeking the preservation of Pagat.
“We want to make sure that the word is out and we want people to experience Pagat and know why it is important for us to maintain it, to preserve it and to make it part our lives in a meaningful way every day,” he said.
Ancient history
Also attending the event was Brian Turner, of the National Preservation Trust, who had a great time on Guam for the past week and a half he’s been here learning about the history of the culture.
“The best thing about the island is the community. I’ve been really inspired by the community here and how people really come together. Guam has great historic sites and great places,” he said.
Turner said they were familiar about the issue of Pagat even before the National Preservation Trust received the nomination to place the village site on the endangered historical list.
“There was concern in our organization and across the country because there is a very direct conflict between an ancient village site that is one of the last intact village sites on the island,” Turner said.
Turner has hiked down to the site and was amazed at how the ancient Chamorros lived centuries ago. “To think how the people lived and survived and that was their freshwater source and how much they must’ve protected that resource makes you appreciate it as well,” he said.
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