Cave yields breast-shaped potsherd

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – Archaeologists digging test pits inside a newly-discovered cave have found potsherds shaped like a woman's breast and a portion of an elbow, similar to anthropomorphic artifacts found in nearby Ayob Cave in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago.

The five-person team from the National Museum also recovered Wednesday (April 16) human and animal bones at the cave in sitio Sagel accidentally uncovered by quarry workers on April 5.

The team has taken soil samples to further study its alkalinity that could have affected the disintegration of the bones.

"We are digging two test pits, about 78 cm. and 20 cm. deep, but the flooring could still be two meters below," team leader Nida Cuevas said.

"What is there is an academic, cultural, scientific evidence at 'yung mga belief systems kung papaano ni-remember ang mga patay noong una."

Cuevas conducted an archaeological study on the gender signified by the artifacts of anthropomorphic secondary burial jars found in Ayob Cave. These jars are now exhibited at the National Museum.

Some significant features and identifications Cuevas found in the jars are the heads, breasts, teeth, and genitals.

Using ethnographic analogy of the natives in the Philippines and in other Southeast Asian countries, these features determine the gender of the person shaped in the burial jars, Cuevas said.

"Kayo lang dito sa Maitum ang meron magandang ganitong collection," said National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon.

"Religious beliefs and tradition. These are the aspects which we hope to discover that the evidence on the artifacts can provide," she added.

Ayob Cave is about 600 meters away from the newly-discovered cave and both are found on the same hillside in barangay Pinol. (SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE/RGP)

Bones

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – A human or animal bone taken from a test pit inside Sagel Cave is examined by National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon during the second day of excavation Thursday, April 17. Two test pits have yielded potsherds similar to man-shaped artifacts found in another cave in barangay Pinol in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Breast

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – This part of a woman's breast is among the potsherds gathered Wednesday, April 16, from test pits inside Sagel Cave. Also among the potsherds are a portion of an elbow similar to anthropomorphic secondary burial jars found in Ayob Cave in barangay Pinol in 1991 which were carbon-dated to nearly 2000 years ago. (Photo by Elizabeth R. Palma Gil/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

CAve potsherds

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) - National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon lays down potsherds and human and animal bones collected Thursday, April 17, from test pits inside Sagel Cave. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Media briefing

MAITUM, Sarangani (April 18, 2008) – Reporters get a crash course on archaeology from National Museum researcher Alexandra de Leon at the Maitum town hall Thursday, April 17. De Leon, who will receive her MA in Archaeology degree from UP on April 27, is part of the five-person National Museum team doing a "preliminary study and assessment" of the newly-discovered cave in sitio Sagel, barangay Pinol. (Photo by Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Muslim costume

Another view of the Muslim costume as part of the 2005 MunaTo Cultural Exhibit in Sarangani Province.

Muslim costumes,artifacts

Collection of Muslim costumes,artifacts and photo of Datu Wata of Glan,Sarangani Province.This was a showcase of Muslim culture for the 2005 MunaTo Festival.

Cultural Artifacts/Crafts

Some cultural crafts,hunting implements,musical instrument called faglung (two-stringed guitar) displayed for the 2005 Cultural Exhibit of the MunaTo festival.

Maitum Jars

This artifact is a property of the Municipal Government of Maitum. It was the center of attraction for the 2005 Cultural Exhibit in celebration of the MunaTo Festival in Sarangani Province.Related articles are presented below for more details/information.

“Maitum Jars” to be declared as National Cultural HeritageProvincial Information Office, 27 November 2002

ALABEL, Sarangani -- Dr. Eusebio Dizon of the National Museum said that some of the now famous “Maitum Jars,” the anthropomorphic secondary burial jars displayed at the Museum, are soon to be declared as “National Cultural Heritage.” This means, according to him during the “Symposium on Maitum Archaeological Finds” held Tuesday (Nov. 26) that these artifacts could neither be sold nor taken out of the country. He did not, however, elaborate when would the declaration take place.

Discovered in 1991 at Pinol Cave, Maitum, this province, the anthropomorphic potteries of human figures depicting various facial expressions are associated to the Metal Age in the Philippines.

Dizon, Curator 1 of the Archaeology Division and Head of the Underwater Archaeology Section of the National Museum, described Pinol Cave as “the most significant cave in Mindanao” and its finds as “unparalleled in Southeast Asia.”

Recently, potsherds from various ages likely 3000 years old had been recovered at Linao Cave, Barangay Kiambing, also in Maitum. His team is presently conducting further study on the collected shards to determine their precise carbon dates.

Dizon said both finds could provide significant information and material evidences to trace not only the Philippine prehistory but also of Southeast Asia. (PIO-Sarangani)

More information about Maitum Jars at http://sarangani.freewebspace.com/news/2002/11/27jars.html

Replica of Maitum MunaTo

Replica of the excavated Maitum MunaTo (Blaan word for first people) as part of the 2005 Cultural Exhibit held at Kasfala Hall,Capitol Complex, Alabel,Sarangani Province.

Excavated jars,china wares

Excavated jars and china wares in Glan,Sarangani Province. This was part of the Cultural Exhibit held at Kasfala Hall during the 2005 MunaTo Festival.

Pre-historic burial jars

Pre-historic burial jars excavated at Glan, Sarangani Province.Presented during the 2005 Munato Cultural Exhibit at the Kasfala Hall courtesy of Dr. Tranquilino Ruiz III, a cultural artist and historian from Glan.