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Pre-hispanic artifacts Flipbook PDF
Pre-hispanic artifacts
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READINGS in Philippine History
Pre-Spanish Philippines What is known about pre-Spanish Philippines are those derived from artifacts unearthed by archeologists. Many of these artifacts are potteries dug in different parts of the country, and they reveal to us aspects of early inhabitants’ culture. One of the oldest artifacts excavated is the Manunggul jar. The jar was found in the early 1960s in Manunggul Cave, close to where the Tabon fossils were found at Lipuun Point, Palawan.
It was dated to have been made and used late Neolithic period, about 890 to 710 BC. On top of the jar cover or lid is a boat with two human figures and were interpreted to represent two souls on a voyage to the afterlife. The boatman is seated behind a figure whose hands are crossed on the chest. This indicates the use of the artifact as a burial jar. The upper part of the jar is incised with curvilinear scroll designs and painted with natural iron or hematite. The jar and the features of such artifacts indicate some level of scientific as well as cultural capabilities.
http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Col lections/Archaeo/Manunggul.html
Another jar technology is seen in the jars found in Saranggani, labeled as Maitum jars. Dated to have been crafted during the Metal Age Period [5 BC to 225 AD], the jars were also used as secondary burial jars. What makes the potteries unique is how human features are illustrated in each jar. It is believed that each jar depicts “specific dead persons whose remain they guard.” This is why such artifacts were labelled as the “Maitum anthropomorphic jars” to emphasize the human-like features of the materials. Like the first pottery, the Maitum jar reflects certain cultural practices and scientific experiences of early island inhabitants. 1|Stanley F. Anongos
Maitum anthropomorphic jars. (https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Maitum%20Anthropomorphic%20Pottery)
While many pre-Hispanic jars found were mostly for burial purposes, a jar found in Batangas in 1958 poses other functions of jars in the Philippines. The jar appears a typical cooking pot except for some inscriptions made around the neck of the jar.
Calatangan pot, Batangas (http://www.bibingka.baybayin.com/dahon/mystery/pot3.htm) The pot was dated to have been used in the 14th and 16th century. To understand the use of the pot, scholars had to make sense of the inscriptions on the jar. After academic debates on the translation, they appear to have settled on the transliteration
READINGS in Philippine History of the marks to mean “Just crossed out of fear alone, is that so? Leave the dakit tree now, will you? Shame/Bring the soul that you encounter, okay?” This reveals a certain cultural ritual of early Filipinos about soul loss and on calling back the lost soul. It now appears that there are pots used for ritual purposes, and the Calatangan pot is now understood as an incense burner for the ritual for the return rite to retrieve the lost or captured soul.1 The Calatangan pot also reveals another expression of pre-Hispanic writing in the country that is distinct from the baybayin. The Calatangan writing is believed to resemble the Java Kavi script of Indonesia.
Pre-Hispanic writing becomes more interesting with the discovery of a copper plate full of writings in Laguna in 1989. Like the Calatangan pot writing, the Laguna Copper Plate writings are different from the baybayin. According to archeologist Antoon Postma, the script and the words used in the Laguna document were exactly the same as those that were used on the island of Java at the time stated in the document, which was the year 822, in the old Hindu calendar or the year 900 C.E. (Common Era) on our calendar.
Laguna Copper Plate, 900 AD (https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/generalblogs/730/reading-the-laguna-copperplate-inscription)
1
The debate is never final. Some scholars still stick to their own transliteration.
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The text of the copper plate was deciphered by Postma and appears to relate to debt and clearing some parties to debt. Portions of the document is presented in the following according to Postma’s transliteration.
Long Live! Year of Siyaka 822, month of Waisaka, according to astronomy. The fourth day of the waning moon, Monday. On this occasion, Lady Angkatan, and her brother whose name is Buka, the children of the Honourable Namwaran, were awarded a document of complete pardon from the Commander in Chief of Tundun, represented by the Lord Minister of Pailah, Jayadewa. By this order, through the scribe, the Honourable Namwaran has been forgiven of all and is released from his debts and arrears of 1 katî and 8 suwarna before the Honourable Lord Minister of Puliran, Ka Sumuran by the authority of the Lord Minister of Pailah. Yes, therefore the living descendants of the Honourable Namwaran are forgiven, indeed, of any and all debts of the Honourable Namwaran to the Chief of Dewata.
The Laguna Copper Plate also indicates that early Filipinos in Laguna were either into copper mining or were involved in copper trade with other places as far as Indonesia. Another artifact found in Butuan reflects another important aspect of precolonial times. Several boats (balangay) have been excavated in Butuan and the latest of which was what appears to be the largest one. While still undated, the new boat artifact found in 2012 is estimated to have been used in the 1200s. It is 25 meters long, used tree nails, and planks used are as broad as man’s chest. Other prehistoric boats recovered in Butuan include a boat dated 320 A.D. now in the site museum in Libertad, Butuan. Another boat dated to 1250 A.D. is in the Museum of the Filipino People in Manila. The third boat dated 990 A.D. is in Butuan Museum.
READINGS in Philippine History
The new boat find, as well as several other balangay, reinforce the findings of the earlier excavations about the role of Butuan as a commercial center being a destination of foreign traders in Southeast Asia and China. Early Filipino seafarers from Butuan were already travelling into Asia earlier than the Chinese. For example, as early as 1001 AD, the Song Dynasty recorded the arrival of a diplomatic mission from the “Kingdom of Butuan.”
Butuan location (https://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Butuan http://www.piepenbrock.nl/map.htm)
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Early Filipinos practiced teeth ornamentation of which one decorating material was gold. A human skull was found in Bolinao, Pangasinan demonstrating this practice. The teeth ornamentation involves fastening gold plates in the teeth designed like fish scales. The practice seems to have been common around 14th to 15th century, the period to which the Bolinao skull is dated to have been alive.
Bolinao skull with teeth ornamentation (http://pinoy-culture.com/recovered-artifacts-treasures-from-the/)
The Bolinao fossil supports an assumption of gold use and of gold trade. It also suggests social hierarchy and that only the wealthy were capable of placing expensive ornamentations like this.
In Benguet, social hierarchy is exposed in the practice of mummification. It is supposed that mummification applies only to prominent and rich persons. In Kabayan, Benguet, several mummies were located in burial caves and serve as additional evidence of important culture and capabilities of pre-colonial Filipinos. Kabayan mummification is believed to have been practiced in the periods from 1200 to 1500. The process of Benguet mummification begins with the ingestion of salt. This is then bathed with some concoction from particular plant extracts, and then exposed to the smoke and fire during the long period of wake. The process which involves exposure to the fire took its name as “fire mummies.”
READINGS in Philippine History
All these fossils and artifacts disclose various aspects of conditions, facilities and culture of early Filipinos. These may provide clarifications to some Spanish perception of Filipino as “uncivilized”.
The mummy of Apo Anno (http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/fire-mummiessmoked-human-remains-kabayan-caves-002734)
Sources: http://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/nationalmuseumbeta/Collections/Archaeo/Manu nggul.html https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Maitum%20Anthropomorphic%20Potte ry http://www.bibingka.baybayin.com/dahon/mystery/pot3.htm https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/general-blogs/730/reading-the-lagunacopperplate-inscription http://maritimereview.ph/2017/11/22/massive-balangay-mother-boat-unearthed-inbutua http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/fire-mummies-smoked-human-remainskabayan-caves-002734 https://www.archaeology.org/issues/109-1311/features/1359-ibaloi-kabayan-skintattoos-omen-animals
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