As #CelebrateTheSeaMonth draws to a close this June, this week’s #TrowelTuesday features the Balobok Rockshelter, a prehistoric archaeological site by the sea.

Located in the southeast part of Tawi-Tawi Province, in a cove facing the Sulu Sea at Sanga-Sanga, the Balobok Rockshelter yielded early evidence of human presence in Mindanao as a result of extensive archaeological excavations undertaken by the #NationalMuseumPH. The site is a prehistoric habitation site from 6810–3190 Before Common Era or BCE (8760–5140 years ago), as evidenced by a shell midden that yielded a considerable amount of animal remains in all three of its cultural layers.

The Balobok Rockshelter was accidentally discovered in 1963 by Mr. Assiong Bangali of Tubig Basag Primary School while fishing near the shore. He saw the rockshelter as he took refuge during a sudden downpour. In 1966, Mr. Eric Casino of the #NationalMuseumPH reported the existence of the rockshelter when he visited it during his fieldwork in Cagayan de Sulu Island. His report described the rockshelter as an archaeological site with shell and stone adzes, flaked tools, earthenware sherds, and shell remains. Later that year, a team of archaeologists led by Mr. Casino conducted an initial excavation of the site. This was succeeded with a partial excavation in 1969 by American anthropologist Alexander Spoehr, and a re-excavation in 1992 and 2007 by the #NationalMuseumPH.

Excavated artifacts included polished shell adzes made from the giant clam Tridacna gigas, flake and polished stone tools, red slipped earthenware sherds with lime impressed designs, and animal remains like shells which delivered the site’s radiocarbon dates. These archaeological materials are significant evidence indicating that the Balobok Rockshelter is one of the earliest habitation sites in the region. Their recovery suggests that the site may have played a significant role in the movements of people into the Southwest Pacific and to the Pacific World. 

In 2008, the Site Development of the Balobok Rockshelter was realized through assistance from the United States Ambassador in the Philippines’ Heritage Conservation Fund. This project was implemented by the #NationalMuseumPH, the Local Government of Bongao, the Provincial Government of Tawi-Tawi, with the active participation of the Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi Campus.

The #NationalMuseumPH declared the Balobok Rockshelter as an Important Cultural Property (ICP) by virtue of Museum Declaration No. 24-2016 on December 16, 2016.

Text by Giovanni Bautista, and poster by Timothy James Vitales | NMP ArchaeologyDivision

© 2022 National Museum of the Philippines

A snapshot of history…

Before the Spaniards invaded Manila, active trade was already taking place along the Pasig River such that rulers of Muslim communities who settled there already imposed custom duties on all commerce passing up the river.  In 1571, the fortress city of Intramuros was founded under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, a spanish conquistador and the first governor-general of the Philippines.  During that time, Manila became the capital of the newly established colony.

As the nation’s capital, Manila has been seriously threatened and even occupied by other foreign powers (i.e. the Chinese in 1574, the Dutch in mid 17th century, and the British in 1762 but was restored back to Spain after the Treaty of Paris in 1763).  Furthermore, Manila was opened to foreign trade in 1832 which was fueled more by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.  It is also during the late 19th century that the height of the Filipino revolution against the spaniards was witnessed especially after the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal in December 1896 – the same year that, the other part of the world is celebrating the discovery of the Philippine eagle.

In 1898, the Americans win the war against the spaniards.  And for at least 4 decades, the Philippines was under U.S. colonial rule.  It was during this period that the US promote social and economic improvement for the city and encourage gradual Filipino political autonomy.  It is also during this period that the famous Bureau of Science was founded (October 26, 1905).  The Bureau houses some 25,000 bird skins collected in more than three decades under the leadership of Richard C. McGregor – who also became the first Chief of the Natural History Division during the American period.  Sadly, all of the collections were destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945.

Shortly after the war, Filipino collectors under the leadership of Dr. Canuto G. Manuel, Curator of the Zoological Collection, Philippine National Museum started to rebuild the Philippine Zoological Collections.  Interestingly, at least 62 birds were first collected in the vicinities of Manila right after the termination of hostilities.

Text by RC Urriza

Layout & graphics by AM Domingo

Photos by AM Domingo and RC Urriza

© 2022 National Museum of the Philippines

Arbor Day

• 

  Deforestation through logging and kaingin (slash and burn faming) contributes to the rapid increase in greenhouse gases that speed up the adverse effects of climate change.

• 

  Our tropical forest serves as a carbon sink that stores greenhouse gases which are the main cause of climate change. We need to plant native trees in our area to avoid the unnecessary accidental introduction of invasive alien species.

• 

  A single tree you planted might have an insignificant impact but our collective efforts of planting trees will slowly create a big impact to save our planet Earth.