Archeology 1 (1/3)

Summary

The video script details the Neolithic period in the Philippines, spanning from 7,000 to 2,000 years ago, marked by advanced stone tools and early agriculture. It features Dr. Robert Fox, an authority on Philippine prehistory, who discusses the discovery of various stone and shell tools, including a gouge for carving boats and an axe for clearing land. The script also covers the excavation of Tabon Cave, where over 200 burial jars and Stone Age tools were found, indicating continuous human habitation for thousands of years. The Tagbanua people, indigenous to Palawan, assisted in the excavation, potentially unearthing artifacts from their own ancestors.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ The period from 7,000 to 2,000 years ago in the Philippines is known as the Neolithic period.
• 🚣‍♂️ During this era, people sailed to the islands, practiced agriculture, and had advanced stone technology.
• 🛠️ The late Professor H Utley's collection includes various Neolithic tools like gouges and axes, indicating the craftsmanship of the time.
• 🌊 Shell tools found suggest that early inhabitants may have migrated from Asia through the Philippines into the Pacific islands.
• 👕 Bark cloth beaters, with grooves for making tree bark clothing, were among the artifacts discovered.
• 🏺 Beautiful nephrite jade tools, estimated at over 5,000, were excavated, showcasing the aesthetic and technical skills of the Stone Age people.
• 🛑 The Stone Age in the Philippines lasted over 50,000 years, ending around 2,000 years ago with the introduction of metals.
• 🔨 The introduction of metals like copper, bronze, iron, and gold marked a significant social and technological shift.
• 🏞️ Dr. Robert Fox, an authority on Philippine prehistory, discusses the long-lasting cultural patterns that persist in some areas.
• 🔍 The search for a Stone Age site in Palawan, an island near Borneo, led to the discovery of Tabon Cave, a significant archaeological site.
• ⚔️ Excavations at Tabon Cave revealed stone tools and burial jars, indicating the site was used for habitation and funeral practices over thousands of years.

Q & A

What period is referred to as the New Stone Age or Neolithic in the Philippines?

The period from about 7,000 years ago to 2,000 years ago is referred to as the New Stone Age or Neolithic in the Philippines.

What significant changes occurred during the Neolithic period in the Philippines?

During the Neolithic period, man sailed into the islands, practiced agriculture, and had vastly improved stone technology.

What is a gouge and what was it likely used for?

A gouge is a type of tool made of stone, believed to have been used to carve boats that man sailed through the islands.

What is the significance of the shell tools found in the Tabon caves?

The shell tools found in the Tabon caves suggest that the man came out of Asia through the Philippines into the Pacific islands.

What material were the bark cloth beaters made from?

The bark cloth beaters were made from the hinge area of the giant clam, which looks like stone but is actually shell.

What type of stone tools were particularly beautiful and made of nephrite?

The most beautiful stone tools recovered in the Philippines are the ground and highly polished adzes made of nephrite, a type of true jade.

How long did the Stone Age last in the Philippines?

The Stone Age in the Philippines lasted for more than 50,000 years and continued until only 2,000 years ago when metals appeared.

What metals marked the end of the Stone Age in the Philippines?

The appearance of copper, bronze, iron, and even gold marked the end of the Stone Age in the Philippines.

Why was the island of Palawan chosen for the search for a Stone Age site?

Palawan was chosen because it almost joins the coastline of Borneo, where remains of Stone Age man had been discovered in the great limestone cave of Niah.

Who are the Tagbanua people and how did they assist in the excavation at Tabon Cave?

The Tagbanua are a minority that has inhabited Palawan for as long as anyone knows. They assisted in the excavation by being skilled in handling local materials like rattan and bamboo, which they still use in their daily lives.

What challenges did the archaeologists face during the excavation at Tabon Cave?

The archaeologists faced challenges due to the floor of the cave being disturbed by the digging of megapodes, which caused confusion in the layers of the floor and made it difficult to determine the stratification.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Neolithic Life in the Philippines

This paragraph discusses the Neolithic period in the Philippines, dating from approximately 7,000 to 2,000 years ago. It describes the lifestyle of the people during this era, including their advanced stone technology, agriculture, and seafaring. The collection of late Professor H Utley is highlighted, which is rich in Neolithic materials. Various stone tools, such as gouges for carving boats, axes for cutting trees, and shell tools made from giant clams, are mentioned as evidence of the people's activities and origins. The paragraph also touches on the debate over the migration patterns of early humans through the Philippines into the Pacific islands. Additionally, it describes the discovery of nephrite tools, a type of true jade, and the social and technological changes that occurred with the introduction of metals like copper, bronze, iron, and gold, which marked the end of the Stone Age in the Philippines.

05:00

🔍 Excavation of Tabon Cave

The second paragraph details the archaeological excavation of Tabon Cave in Palawan, led by Dr. Fox and his team. The cave was chosen for exploration due to its potential as a Stone Age site, similar to the limestone caves of Sarawak where remains of Stone Age man were previously discovered. The team faced challenges such as clearing vegetation and recruiting local Tagbanua people, who were skilled with local materials and whose lifestyle and appearance were distinct from the mainstream Filipinos. The excavation revealed over 200 burial jars dating back 2,000 years, indicating a practice of placing the bones of the dead in jars and hiding them in high caves. The presence of stone tools on the surface suggested that the cave was inhabited by ancient man thousands of years before the jar burial people. The paragraph also describes the challenges of excavation due to the disturbance of the cave floor by megapodes, which complicated the stratification necessary for dating the site. The importance of using accurate and scientific methods during the excavation is emphasized, with a focus on delicate exploratory work using ice picks and brushes.

Keywords

💡Neolithic

The Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, spans from approximately 7,000 to 2,000 years ago. It is characterized by the development of agriculture, the domestication of animals, and advancements in stone tool technology. In the context of the video, the Neolithic period in the Philippines is marked by the arrival of people who practiced agriculture and had improved stone technology, indicating a significant shift from the previous hunter-gatherer lifestyle. The script mentions the use of stone tools like gouges and axes, which were likely used for carving boats and clearing land for agriculture.

💡Land Bridges

Land bridges refer to natural connections between landmasses that are now separated by water. They are formed when sea levels drop, creating a temporary link between islands or continents. The script implies that during the Neolithic period, these land bridges had disappeared, suggesting that the early inhabitants of the Philippines arrived when the land was still connected, facilitating their movement into the islands.

💡Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and animals for food, fiber, and other products. The video's script highlights the importance of agriculture during the Neolithic period in the Philippines, where people began to clear land for planting rice and root crops. This shift to agriculture allowed for the establishment of more permanent settlements and a more stable food supply.

💡Stone Technology

Stone technology refers to the methods and tools used by prehistoric peoples to work with stone. In the video, it is mentioned that the Neolithic people had 'vastly improved stone technology,' which allowed them to create more complex and effective tools. Examples from the script include gouges for carving boats and axes for cutting trees, showcasing the advancement in tool-making techniques.

💡Gouge

A gouge is a type of stone tool, characterized by its curved cutting edge, used for carving or shaping wood. The script describes a gouge as a tool that was likely used to carve boats, indicating its importance in maritime activities and transportation during the Neolithic period in the Philippines.

💡Axe

An axe is a tool with a sharp edge, typically used for cutting, shaping, or chopping wood. In the context of the video, the Neolithic people used stone axes to cut down trees in the forest, creating agricultural clearings for planting crops. This reflects the importance of axes in land clearance and the development of agriculture.

💡Shell Tools

Shell tools are implements made from the shells of marine animals, such as clams or oysters. The script mentions a tool made from the hinge area of a giant clam, suggesting that the Neolithic people in the Philippines utilized locally available materials for tool-making. This use of shell materials is an example of the resourcefulness and adaptability of these early inhabitants.

💡Tabon Cave

Tabon Cave is a significant archaeological site in the Philippines, mentioned in the script as the location of a major excavation. The cave is known for its rich deposits of Stone Age artifacts, including burial jars and stone tools. The video discusses the discovery of these artifacts, which provide evidence of the long human habitation of the cave and the cultural practices of the Neolithic people.

💡Nephrite

Nephrite is a type of true jade, valued for its beauty and durability. The script describes nephrite tools as the 'most beautiful of the stone tools' found in the Philippines, with over 5,000 such tools having been excavated. This indicates the high level of craftsmanship and the cultural value placed on these tools during the Neolithic period.

💡Metals

The introduction of metals such as copper, bronze, iron, and gold marked the end of the Stone Age and the beginning of the Metal Age. The script notes that the appearance of metals in the Philippines around 2,000 years ago coincided with significant social and technological changes. The shift from stone to metal tools and weapons represents a major advancement in material culture and the development of more complex societies.

💡Stratification

Stratification in archaeology refers to the layering of sediments and artifacts in the ground, which can be used to determine the chronological sequence of events. The script describes the importance of good stratification for understanding the history of a site, such as Tabon Cave. The layers of soil and artifacts correspond to different periods, allowing archaeologists to reconstruct the past and understand the evolution of human activities at the site.

Highlights

The period from 7,000 to 2,000 years ago in the Philippines was the Neolithic era, where significant advancements in stone technology and agriculture were made.

Man sailed into the islands during the Neolithic period using boats carved with stone tools like gouges.

Agriculture was practiced, and land was cleared with stone axes for planting rice and root crops.

Shell tools made from giant clam shells were used, suggesting a connection with Asia.

The collection of late Professor H Utley is rich in Neolithic materials, showcasing the variety of stone tools used.

Bark cloth beaters with longitudinal grooves were used for making clothing from tree bark.

Over 5,000 nephrite tools, a type of true jade, have been excavated in the Philippines.

The Stone Age in the Philippines lasted over 50,000 years, ending around 2,000 years ago with the introduction of metals.

The introduction of metals like copper, bronze, iron, and gold marked a period of great social and technological change.

Basic material culture and life patterns of the people were developed during this era, some of which persist in isolated areas.

Dr. Robert Fox, a leading authority, discusses the prehistory of the Philippines and the search for Stone Age sites.

Tabon Cave on Palawan Island is a significant Stone Age site with evidence of human habitation.

The Tagbanua people, a minority group in Palawan, assisted in the excavation, possibly unearthing their ancestors' past.

Over 200 burial jars were found in Tabon Cave, indicating a practice of jar burial for the dead.

Stone tools were found on the surface of Tabon Cave, suggesting ancient man's presence thousands of years before the jar burial people.

The cave's conditions, such as being dry and bug-free, made it an ideal habitation site for ancient man.

The excavation at Tabon Cave was a significant scientific endeavor, requiring careful and accurate methods.

The use of delicate tools like ice picks and brushes was crucial for the exploratory work in the cave.

Transcripts

the period from about 7,000 years ago to

2,000 years ago was the new Stone Age or

Neolithic in the Philippines during the

new Stone Age man sailed into the island

the land bridges had disappeared he

practiced agriculture and he had a

vastly improved stone technology the

collection of the late Professor H Utley

buyer is particularly wealthy in

neolithic materials this is a gouge a

type of tool made of stone which we

believe was used to carve the boats that

man sailed through the islands this much

larger stone tool is an axe used to cut

trees in the forest where he planted his

agricultural clearings of rice and root

crops another type of tool which was

recovered in the table own caves looks

like stone but is actually shell made

from the hinge area of the giant clam

this is one of the many evidences which

would suggest the man came out of Asia

through the Philippines into the Pacific

island

despite the opinions of the people who

work with the cone Tiki expedition

this is still another type of stone tool

a bark cloth beater with longitudinal

grooves on its face clothing at that

time was made from the bark of trees the

most beautiful of the stone tools

recovered in the Philippines are these

ground and highly polished accident

adzes made of nephrite a type of true

jade is estimated that more than 5000

nephrite tools have been excavated or

collected in the Philippines the Stone

Age in the Philippines lasted for more

than 50,000 years and continued until

only 2,000 years ago when the metals

appeared copper bronze iron even gold

there was a period of great social and

technological change when the basic

material culture of the people here was

developed and the basic patterns of

their life some of which exist

in isolated areas of the Philippines

even today that was dr. Robert Fox a

leading authority on the prehistory of

the Philippines the Philippines that

chain of islands stretching a thousand

miles between the Pacific and the South

China Sea in the extreme southwest of

the archipelago on the island of Palawan

stands the rocky outcrop of lafawn point

densely forested and sparsely inhabited

a search is in progress along the plowin

coast for a likely Stone Age site all

the stone poles he that - encountered

had come from casual finds that been no

scientific excavations in the

Philippines a places where Stone Age man

might actually have lived dr. parks

remembers well the feeling of excitement

as he and the party from the Philippine

National Museum waded ashore for the

first time in 1963 he already knew from

evidence in other parts of Southeast

Asia that Stone Age man had lived in

limestone caves this might well be the

place they were looking for allow an

island had been chosen because it almost

joins the coastline of Borneo where a

few years earlier and the great

limestone cave of Mia in the state of

Sarawak remains of Stone Age man had

been discovered dr. Fox and his team

were right and now several years later

they're revisiting Tabon cave site of

their own successful excavation when

they first arrived the cave mouth was

covered with a screen of fees that had

to be filled before work could begin

beside museum staff a number of local

people had to be recruited to help most

of Filipinos / to fill them were tagged

wanna a minority that is inhabited

palawan for as long as anyone knows and

that still lives there in small groups

today and this man Peto is a tag wanna

they are skilled in handling the local

materials Retton and bamboo and so they

should be but these are the materials

they still use in their daily lives this

man

Tomoko is another member of the tag

wanna people in way of life and in

appearance that quite distinct from the

filipinos they may well have been

helping to unearth their own people's

past when they started working on this

excavation with the National Museum and

dr. Foxx when we first climbed into

table on cave in 1963 there was like

stepping into the path along this wall

bathes in the afternoon sunlight were

jars large burial jar

some 2,000 years ago as we already knew

there was a practice throughout the

Philippines to place the bones of the

dead in jars and then to hide the jars

in high caves overlooking the sea where

they formed a majestic resting place for

the dead more than 200 jars were found

in table and cave some were broken some

had collapsed and some were almost

perfect resting there in this condition

for nearly 2,000 years we were far more

excited in the first exploration of

Table one cave to find tools of stone

lying on the surface indicating that

ancient man might have been in this cave

thousands and thousands of years before

the jar burial people appeared this cave

forms a perfect habitation site for man

there are no bugs it is dry the sea

living this perfect condition it is high

on the face of a cliff protected from

the elements it is a beautiful home

utilized for thousands of years by man

and carved by nature so from the start

they had good indication that Stone Age

man had inhabited this cave some of his

stone tools were lying right on the

surface alongside the burial jars there

was a problem the floor had already been

disturbed by the digging of a bird

locally known as the table or bird and

elsewhere is the mega poo which there is

its eggs deep in the loose soil where

they're left to hatch

these digging by the megapodes had

caused considerable confusion in the

levels of the floor for what the

archeologist seeks is good

stratification as he goes down through

layers of foil so he is going down

through layers of time the different

strata may correspond to thousands of

years of history loose earth can be

removed with a trowel but the actual

excavation must be done with a small I

speak this was one of the first major

excavations at the National Museum it

was most important that accurate and

scientific methods should be used the

ice pick and the brush are employed for

really delicate exploratory work