Archaeological
exploration in Tigayon Hill in Kalibo, Aklan will uncover the missing links to
the rich history and cultural heritage of Aklan.
Tigayon
Hill is a limestone formation in Barangay Tigayon, three kilometers away from
Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan. It was once a secret sanctuary for the province’s freedom fighters
against Spain.
Museo
it Akean curator Sumra Dela Cruz-Rojo said the recent four-day test excavation
of Tigayon Hill caves by archaeologists from the National Museum of
Philippines could also help answer questions about the past
civilizations.
“They
started the exploration and it was just a quick look on portions of the caves.
The local government has to request for another team to resume the
archaeological exploration and excavation activities of the two caves. There is
a possibility of burial jars under the caves surface,” she said in an interview.
Rojo
stressed that the local government through Mayor William Lachica plans to put
up a mini-museum in Tigayon Hill this October to preserve the artifacts and
evidences of cultural history.
In
2004, National Museum archaeologists Rey Santiago and Noel Escultura were
invited by Anna India Legaspi and Rojo to look into the discovery of ancient
artifacts in the excavated portion in Kalibo Pastrana Park that led also for
the archaeologists to survey the Tigayon Hill.
The
findings and recommendations for further explorations of Tigayon Hill were
submitted to then Mayor Raymar Rebaldo, but, it has been 10 years after that an
archaeological work in caves with a P300,000 grant from the Department of
Tourism was pushed through by the National Museum of the Philippines.
Prior
to exploratory study of Tigayon Hill caves, the National Museum archaeologists
oriented the Kalibo Sangguniang Bayan members and tourism stakeholders on cultural heritage protection
and archaeology on September 11.
During
the recent excavation, archaeological cave sediments such as shards of potteries
with deep and shallow ethnic, wave-like patterns and human bones and teeth that
existed between the Metal Age, 400 B.C. – 800 A.D. were discovered in the first
cave.
The
archaeologists also found yesterday shards of Chinese trade wares ceramics aside from
terracotas, carnelian bead of Indian origin and a glass bead, a by-product of
metal smelting in the second cave.
Rojo
said the archaeologists are “trying to piece out the missing link of the
Aklan’s culture that the artifacts can answer, once they bring the samples and
carbon dated, they will know the period of time of its existence.”
“The
artifacts in Tigayon Hill caves have historical and cultural value not only for us Aklanons, but also
for the Philippines, Asia and the world,” Rojo added.
Museum
researcher/archaeologist Giovanni Bautista, head of Research Section, Cultural
Properties Division; Jose Santiago, first cousin of Rey Santiago; and Antonio
Penalosa, archaeologists of the Archaeology Division of the National Museum of the Philippines
conducted the site inspection, mapping and excavation of Tigayon Hill caves.
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