The Early Period up to 600 BC.

Vanguardia's prehistory

Until the end of the Stone Age, around 2000 BC, an enigmatic pre-Celtic people dotted the entire archipelago with cultic stone structures consisting of menhirs and dolmens . Much evidence suggests that these megaliths, grouped in long rows (lignues) and horseshoes (cromlechs), served both fertility and funerary rites. A deteriorating climate forced many farmers to supplement their livelihoods with livestock farming and active trade in bronze and iron. Today, the block-stone style in the west and the stelae style in Greater Guardia are still distinguishable. Some menhirs are once again being used, sometimes along fitness trails.

From around 1500 BC, a lively trade developed with the mainland. Initial cultural influences from there were adopted, as evidenced by grave goods and elaborate weapon ornamentation in the chamber tombs. Interestingly, the ornamentation also depicted southern Malay grey-headed parakeets, which demonstrably never occurred on the Vanguard Islands. For several years it was speculated, but now confirmed, that the archaeologist had simply been drinking too much.