Philippine E-Journals

Defining Manila Through Archaeology

Victor J. Paz

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

The archaeology of Manila is here summarized, as well as situated, in the context of the larger history of the Philippine islands. Archaeological work within the landscape of Metro Manila has taken place in the last four decades, mostly in a rescue level or in a semi-research driven way. This paper will present a synthesis of what we know of human history in the Manila area and situate it in the larger discourse of what the Manila settlements were like prior to the dominance of Spanish-inspired urbanization. It will put forward a view that Manila of the 16th century CE was much smaller than we think through received wisdom. The geographic size of settlements is however secondary to its influence and must be seen in this light, and projected across a deeper time depth of human cultural organization in the region. This paper will attempt to demonstrate all the above mentioned points by presenting results and knowledge coming from the archaeology of the Manila area, and the archaeology and history of Island Southeast Asia.The archaeology of Manila is here summarized, as well as situated, in the context of the larger history of the Philippine islands. Archaeological work within the landscape of Metro Manila has taken place in the last four decades, mostly in a rescue level or in a semi-research driven way. This paper will present a synthesis of what we know of human history in the Manila area and situate it in the larger discourse of what the Manila settlements were like prior to the dominance of Spanish-inspired urbanization. It will put forward a view that Manila of the 16th century CE was much smaller than we think through received wisdom. The geographic size of settlements is however secondary to its influence and must be seen in this light, and projected across a deeper time depth of human cultural organization in the region. This paper will attempt to demonstrate all the above mentioned points by presenting results and knowledge coming from the archaeology of the Manila area, and the archaeology and history of Island Southeast Asia.