Chuhangin Sites of Ivuhos Island, Batanes

It’s February already, and the cold breeze of hanging amihan continues to bring chilly weather across the country, especially in the highlands and coastal areas. 

But did you know that aside from the beautiful scenery, some coastal areas in the Philippines have rich archaeology as well? For this week’s #TrowelTuesday, we are featuring the sites of Chuhangin in Ivuhos Island, Batanes.

Coastal sites, or areas near the sea, have long been utilized for habitation, livelihood, or burial. These sites are typically identified through the excavated material remains and features left behind by former inhabitants. The Chuhangin coastal site in Ivuhos Island, Batanes, is one such area of archaeological importance in the northern Philippines with its discovered precolonial habitation and burial sites. In 1995, the #NationalMuseumPH Batanes Archaeological Project team, led by Dr. Eusebio Dizon, began excavations to study settlement patterns and other features discovered on the island.

Archaeological excavations in Chuhangin revealed burial sites that feature boat-shaped stone markers, burial jars, and a combination of these two. At least 10 boat-shaped burial stone markers (read more: https://tinyurl.com/BatanesBoatShapedBurials), made of limestone and andesite, were also found inland, concealing human skeletal remains. Radiocarbon-14 test of one of these remains placed the estimated age of the burials at around the late 16th century. Isotope analysis on the human remains revealed a diet composed of both marine and land resources, similar to findings in other Batanes sites. At the Chuhangin ijang, a fortress settlement on hilltops (read more: https://tinyurl.com/IjangsOfBatanes), the finds discovered include stone tools and earthenware sherds, supporting the hypothesis that the ijang is a strategic location in defending the inhabitants against aggressors and enemies.

Archaeological discoveries such as these, however, are at risk of being lost or destroyed, thus requiring additional efforts in their preservation. Due to their open location, coastal sites like Chuhangin are vulnerable to climate change, natural calamities such as typhoons, and man-made interventions like looting and treasure hunting. We need to protect these archaeological sites, features, and artifacts to further understand our past and for the benefit of succeeding generations.

The #NationalMuseumPH is now open to the public. Click on this link to book your visit to the museum: https://reservation.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/. Please remember to #KeepSafe and always #WearYourMask.

#ChuhanginCoastalSite
#ArchaeologyOfBatanesIslands
#MuseumFromHome

Text by Sherina Aggarao and Gregg Alfonso Abbang and posters by Timothy James Vitales

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