St. Clare Community Foundation School Inc.

Leviste, Laurel, Batangas

Understanding Culture, Society and Politics 12

Mr. Julius R. Sarmiento

Lesson 07 Philippine Archeological Cultural Treasure, the LCI measures 7 x 12 inches when
Sites and Artifacts unrolled.
MANUNGGUL CAVE, LIPUUN, PALAWAN
Things to Remember Several stunning artifacts were discovered
in Chamber A, Manunggul Cave in Lipuun
Point, Palawan by a group of archaeologists
Archaeology refers to the study of human activity who investigated the site from 1962 to 1965.
through the recovery and analysis of material culture. People The Manunggul Jar is one of them.
who do this are called an archaeologists. In addition to burial jars, they also
Artefactual evidences and human material remains plays recovered human remains covered in red paint
a significant roles in interpreting cultural and social, including and adorned with bracelets made of jade,
political and economic processes to human’s way of life. Let’s shells, and stone beads
begin with some of the notable artefacts and human material Measuring 66.5 x 51.5 cms, the
remains found during the Neolithic Period, Neolithic Manungggul jar is actually a secondary
Revolution, up to the Earliest Civilization in the world. burial jar used to store the bones of
PROVINCE OF RIZAL someone who was previously buried.
In the province of Angono, Rizal the The lid features a “spirit boat” or “ship of
Angono Petroglyphs was discovered. It the dead” carrying two souls on a
is the oldest known work of art in the journey to the afterlife.
Philippines.
There are 127 human and animal figures
engraved on the rockwall probably THE BALINGASAY, BOLINAO, PANGASINAN
carved during the late Neolithic, or The formidable Bolinao skull is only one of
before 2000BC. 67 skulls recovered from the Balingasay
These inscriptions clearly show stylized Archaeological Site in Bolinao, Pangasinan.
human figures, frogs and lizards, along They were found along with several Early Ming
with other designs that may have dynasty (1368-1644) ceramics.
depicted other The skulls have teeth that are decorated
interesting figures but erosion may with gold ornaments, a symbolic wealth and
have caused it to become bravery during the prehistoric era.
indistinguishable. The engravings are The Bolinao Skull stands out because gold
mostly symbolic representations and scales were observed: “ on the
are associated with healing and buccal surfaces of the upper
sympathetic magic. The site is sacred and lower incisors and canines”. The
for Indiginous Tagalog Folk religion gold decorations have flat rounded
and is believed to be home for anitos. tops that are placed in a bored hole
on the teeth. These gold ornaments
THE CALLAO CAVE, PANGASINAN overlap one another making them
In 2007, a group of archaeologists led
Lesson 07 Philippine Archeological
by Dr. Armand Mijares of U.P. Diliman
discovered a foot bone in Callao Cave Sites and Artifucks
in the town of Peñablanca, Cagayan. look
The said skeletal remain–specifically fish scales
the third metatarsal of the foot–is said to
be “the earliest human fossil found in Things to Do
the Asia-Pacific region.” The foot bone
discovered in Callao Cave was a mere
61 millimeters
or 2.4 inches.
Photo courtesy
of Dr. Armand Mijares. Activity 1: Analogy
Based on a method called Directions: Look at the first pair and decide how the two words
“uraniumseries dating,” it was also are related to each other. Then write the missing word of the
revealed that the foot bone is second pair of words so it will have the same relationship.
approximately 67,000 years old,
predating the “Tabon Man”–long 1. Manunggul Jar: Palawan
been thought to be the country’s earliest human remains– ___________: Pangasinan
which is only 50,000 years.
2. Angono Petroglyphics: Rizal
LUMBANG RIVER, LAGUNA ___________: Laguna
In 1986 near the mouth of
Lumbang River, the Laguna Copper 3. Callao Cave: Cagayan
Plate Inscription or LCI was __________: Palawan
accidentally discovered. LCI is the
earliest historical document in the 4. Foot bone: Callao Cave
country and also Burial Jar: _____________
the only pre-
Spanish document 5. Balingasay Archeological Site: Pangasinan
discovered so far. Chamber A, Manunggul Cave in Lupuun Point:____________
Now a National

Value to be Develop: Respect is a two-way street, if you want to get it, you’ve got to give it