Vertebrate Fossils from Rizal

Posted on: October 26, 2021 | Resty National Museum Posted in Uncategorized.

Vertebrate Fossils from Rizal, Kalinga

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2 – Evidence of Early Human Occupation Exhibition at NMNH

Evidence of Early Human Occupation Exhibition at the Ayala Reception Hall of NMNH.

Photo by the National Museum of the Philippines (2021)
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4 – Rhino dental and skeletal characters (Antoine et al 2021)

Comparison of dental and skeletal characters of the Kalinga rhino (Nesorhinus philippinensis, left image) and rhino from Taiwan
(N. hayasakai, right image). Illustration from “A new rhinoceros clade from the Pleistocene of Asia sheds light on mammal dispersals to the Philippines” by Antoine et al. (2021).

The #NationalMuseumPH continues to celebrate the Museums and Galleries Month with today’s #TrowelTuesday, featuring the fossil fauna from the archaeological site in Rizal, Kalinga.

The Ayala Reception Hall at the National Museum of Natural History holds several important exhibits, one of which highlights a set of specimens considered to be the oldest evidence of early human presence in the Philippines. The exhibition was launched during a press briefing in May 2019, on the publication release of an article that presented the Kalinga excavation findings. Select fossilized remains of an extinct endemic species of megafauna that roamed our land hundreds of thousands of years ago are shown, along with associated stone tools.

How important are these fossils?

The faunal assemblage of the Awidon Mesa Formation, where the Kalinga Site lies, is composed of the extinct Philippine rhinoceros (Nesorhinus philippinensis), stegodon (Stegodon luzonensis), and pig (Celebochoerus cagayananensis), as well as freshwater turtle, monitor lizard, and Philippine brown deer found in situ (in the original position at deposition) within a clay layer.

Fossil fauna give us a glimpse into the past, at a time when the climate and environmental conditions supported the existence and proliferation of these diverse taxa or animal groups. The relationships and movement or dispersal patterns of animals may also be gleaned from these remains, like this study on Philippine rhino (read here: https://tiny.one/WorldRhinoDay ).

Modifications or observable changes on the surface of fossilized animal remains may also reveal past activities. These may either be human-induced like the butchery marks seen on the exhibited long bones and ribs of the rhino (read here: https://tinyurl.com/KalingaStoneTools), or natural processes leading to the deposition of these materials and formation of the site (click here for a paper: https://tinyurl.com/KalingaSiteTaphonomy ). Fossils may also provide a site’s relative or even absolute date, like how the rhino premolar on display determined the archaeological site of Kalinga to be 709 ± 68 thousand years ago.

Site preservation and material culture context are important in understanding our nation’s heritage and past. Report to your local government authorities or the nearest #NationalMuseumPH office, if you have information on discovered fossils and artifacts or looting activities in your area.

Your #NationalMuseumPH has re-opened its doors to the public following the IATF Guidelines on the Implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response in Pilot Areas. Book your slot or explore our collections and exhibitions through this website.

#FossilFauna

#MuseumsAndGalleriesMonth

#MGM2021

#MuseumFromHome

#YearOfFilipinoPrecolonialAncestors

Text by Marian Reyes and Maricar Belarmino, and posters by Timothy James Vitales | NMP Archaeology Division

The Allure of Blue: Blue Pigment on Porcelain

Posted on: October 25, 2021 | National Museum of the Philippines Posted in Uncategorized.

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Are you fascinated by the blue and white aesthetics of these porcelain?

As we continue to celebrate the #MuseumsAndGalleriesMonth, this week’s #MaritimeMonday features the blue pigment on porcelain and its significance throughout the history.

The color blue was notably absent among the earliest pigments used in pre-history, as naturally occurring blue pigments are rare and can only be mined on deposits that are difficult to access. Lapis Lazuli and Azurite were among the first known sources of mineral blue pigment and were considered highly valuable and expensive, due to their rarity and importance.

The shortage of blue pigments from natural resources prompted the manufacture of synthetic blue pigments. These artificial pigments were made from readily accessible raw materials and were less expensive than the mineral pigments. The significance of blue color increased as the Chinese blue and white porcelain became a popular commodity worldwide. This was evidenced by the number of blue and whites found along the maritime trade routes, including the shipwrecks in the Philippines dated from 14th to 18th centuries Common Era (CE). Examples of shipwrecks with blue and white porcelain on their cargos are the Pandanan (15th century CE), Santa Cruz (15th century CE), and San Diego (16th century CE).

Cobalt blue decoration derived from cobalt oxide was discovered to be the most stable pigment when fired at high temperatures of 1200 to 1350 °C, which is required in producing porcelain. This yielded a striking, permanent bright blue design on the white surface. The scarcity of stable natural blue pigments attributed to the glamour status of blue color of these porcelain. Persia, present-day Iran, is a well-known source of cobalt ores in early times. There were also reported sources from China, Iraq, and Sumatra during the Medieval Period (c. 5th–15th century CE). The cobalt blue pigment used in different periods also vary in composition. Other known blue pigments used were ultramarine, Egyptian blue, Han blue, Maya blue, and Prussian blue.

Your #NationalMuseumPH is now open to the public. You may see and appreciate these blue and white porcelain at the ‘300 Years of Maritime Trade in the Philippines’ exhibition at the 2nd floor hallway gallery of the National Museum of Anthropology. To book a slot, please visit our website at www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph and click ‘Book A Tour’. Remember to #KeepSafe by practicing minimum health protocols while viewing our galleries. You may also experience the virtual tour of the exhibit by clicking on this link: https://tinyurl.com/300YearsOfMaritimeTradePH

#BlueAndWhitePorcelain

#MuseumFromHome

#MGM2021

#BeatCOVID19

The Lesser Long-tongued Bat (Macroglossus minimus)

Posted on: October 25, 2021 | National Museum of the Philippines Posted in Uncategorized.

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Photo of Macroglossus minimus (E. Geoffroy, 1810) taken from Mt. Natib, Bataan Natural Park in 2015. English: Lesser long-tongued nectar bat, Tagalog: Paniki, Bisaya: Kagi, Ivatan: Panichi

Scientific illustration of the Macroglossus minimus by the National Museum artist illustrator Aissa Domingo with the flatlay of the actual skull of the M. minimus. If you zoom in on the actual skull, you will notice the small but very sharp teeth of the bat.

As your #NationalMuseumPH joins the observance of #BatWeek, we want to share with you a small amazing bat that provides an awesome service to our planet.

The Lesser Long-tongued Bat (Macroglossus minimus) is a small bat with about 65-78 mm length and 14-20 g weight. It has a narrow muzzle long tongue, hence its English name. It has large eyes compared to other small bats and has canines that are slender and sharp.

This native bat is found throughout the Philippines and in almost every habitat. They are usually observed in mangrove areas, along streams in the forests, and in agricultural areas. This nectarivore (an animal that feeds on nectar and pollen) bat is an important pollinator of bat-loving (chiropterophilous) plants in the mangrove. The flowers of these plants are usually white or pale in color and have a very strong scent so the bats can easily locate them in the dark.

The bat’s long and slender snout is well adapted for feeding on the nectar of flowers. At night while humans are in slumber, the bat makes its trip to the wooded areas where flowers of chiropterophilous plants are in bloom. They probe their narrow mouth to the funnel shaped flowers and feed on the nectar. This kind of feeding behavior contributes to the regrowth of vegetation in the forests and other wooded areas.

Text and images by the NMP Zoology Division