Sacred Chamoru latte stones that have been taken from Guam for more than a century have finally been rematriated back to their rightful place.  A special ceremony was held at Skinner Plaza Park in Hagatna earlier today, welcoming home the latte from Ipao and Urunao.  

In the 1900’s, thousands of cultural artifacts collected by amateur archaeologist and US Marine Hans Hornbostel was removed from Guam and the Northern Marianas and have been housed at Bishop Museum in Hawaii for generations.

A phased return of some 10,000 artifacts began in August after years of negotiation, marking one of the largest ethical returns to ever occur. The collection includes pottery, slingstones, sinåhi and sacred latte. 

The Guam Museum says the latte will be temporarily displayed in Skinner Plaza until the Nåftan Mañaina-Ta (Shrine of our ancestors) is completed.