Philippine E-Journals

Archaeological Sites and Their Context

Ame M. Garong

Discipline: Philippine History

 

Abstract:

Deciphering archaeological sites in order to reconstruct past life ways is essential in establishing unrecorded Philippine prehistory. The Archaeology Division of the National Museum has been continuously exploring, surveying, and excavating different archaeological sites in the entire archipelago for this purpose, be they on land or underwater. Surviving physical evidence of past human activity that will provide clues on habitation and mode of living is important for the proper interpretation and classification of sites. Characterizing surviving physical evidence of past human activity, like fishing, pottery making or just plain midden, could lead to a better understanding of the past. Archaeological sites from Cagayan Valley, Northern Philippines provide various information on site utilization and human subsistence from 1,000 to 4,000 years ago. Continuous use of the site up to the present can be observed from the site’s soil layering. An older cave site found in Loay, Bohol, produced flake tools from the lower level and ceramics and potteries in the upper layer. Another type of archaeological site is the burial site of which many are found in the island of Cebu. Such sites range from the historical period to the metal age period. The sites were excavated in the municipalities of Boljoon in the south and San Remigio in the north. Interestingly, different funerary offerings from the archaeological undertakings have revealed then prevailing burial practices.