PHILIPPINE PREHISTORYPart 2

CORE ACHIEVEMENTS

Philippine History & Culture LecturesBy: HANNIBAL F. CARADO

CRITERIA FOR CIVILIZATION

Efficient technology Predictive Science Writing Art and Religion Foreign trade Big population Megalithic structures Government Laws Warfare

Predictive ScienceDid our ancestors have science or

only superstitious beliefs and traditional practices?

Predictive Science

Ceramics manufacturing› However crude this may be done, it

involves the fundamentals of inorganic chemistry

› The analysis of ceramics dug up in many archeological sites in the country documents the existence of such knowledge – the artifacts show uniformity in firing techniques

› This argues for the replicability and predictability of the system – the key principles of science

Predictive Science

Practice of mummification› Scholars have traced the practice of

mummification back to about 200 to 150 BC

› These mummies show that our ancestors developed remarkable skills in the art (or science) of preserving cadavers

Predictive Science

Practice of mummification› Our ancestor have developed more

sophisticated skills in embalming than the Egyptians because they were able to preserve their beloved under hostile environmental conditions; continuous rain, low humidity, and the absence of tombs to seal these objects against the elements

Predictive Science

Dentistry› Dentistry was fairly well-developed by

the 14th century› Recovered from different parts of the

country were skulls with perfect dentures that display carefully worked gold fillings

› Most of the teeth excavated in prehistoric sites show evidence of having been filled and treated

Predictive Science

Dentistry› If dentistry deals with the care of

teeth or dentures, then dentistry as part of scientific medicine was already practiced by our ancestors.

WritingOur ancestors were highly literate

before the coming of the Spaniards. They were literate in syllabic writing

Writing

Spanish chroniclers, like Chirino and Plasencia, were impressed that the residents of the communities they visited were highly literate; men and women could read and write

Writing

In the early 1960’s, a pot was recovered in a 14th century graveyard in Batangas with writing on its shoulder

In the mi 1970’s, archeologists working in Butuan retrieved from a pothunter a strip of metal with writing on it.

Both the Batangas and Butuan artifacts have not yet been adequately translated

Writing

The Doctrina Cristiana was reproduced first in Filipino script and distributed.

But when the Spaniards in later years replaced the syllabic writing with Roman alphabets, our ancestors became illiterate – illiterate in the new system

Art and ReligionArt and religion were highly

developed during prehistoric times.

Art and Religion

Thousands of divinities and spirits were believed to live in the world of humans, participating in their affairs

Man’s relationship with them were elaborately detailed in rituals and ceremonies

They were also etched in art

Art and Religion

Petroglyphs discovered by the National Museum archeologists in the rock shelter of Angono, Rizal, show possible religious functions

Objects in human form, sculptured out of adobe, were likewise retrieved from ancient graveyards

These were used as markers (likha) for their departed kin

Art and Religion

The highlight of Filipino prehistoric art is expressed in ceramics.

Also impressive are the art forms in Maitum pottery excavated in Ayub Cave in southern Mindanao

Hundreds of pottery artifacts with anthropomorphic motifs were recovered, some of which were painted or washed with red hematite

Art and Religion

Even in ornaments, the gold jewelry manufactured and used by them show sophisticated taste

Thus, if art and religion are criteria for civilization, then our ancestors accomplished more than what we credited them to have done

Big PopulationPrior to the coming of the Spaniards,

there were already big villages along key trading centers throughout the

archipelago

Big Population

At the time of contact, Manila was a flourishing barangay – a trading center of considerable size, surrounded by wooden palisades as protection from the enemies

We did not have cities like those in Europe, we had trading centers

Big Population

Our trading barangays were big, considering the times when they flourished. Cebu, Panay, Leyte and Mindoro were densely populated

If population density is to be another criterion for civilization, our ancestors met this standard very well

Foreign TradeOur ancestors were also engaged in

foreign trade before the coming of the Westerners

Foreign Trade

The presence of many carnelian beads in many of our archeological sites document these early trade relation, especially with India where sources of these items are found in abundance even today

In turn, local merchants followed the maritime trade routes of these foreigners

Foreign Trade

In turn, local merchants followed the maritime trade routes of these foreigners . This led to the intensification of interisland contacts and commerce

The highlight of foreign trade in prehistoric Philippines was with the Chinese (c. 9th and the 15th centuries, as evidenced by the tremendous number of porcelain ceramics recovered from archeological sites all over the country

Foreign Trade

Other traders from Siam, Cambodia, and Vietnam also came to do business with our ancestors

Thus if foreign trade is a criterion for civilization, then our ancestors fulfilled this requirement

Megalithic StructuresCritics of the view that we had a prehistoric civilization point to the fact that we did not possess megalithic structures to document

such accomplishments. This is true

Megalithic Structures

We did not build pyramids, a Great Wall, a Taj Mahal, an Angkor Wat, or a Borobudur

There was no need for these structures because we did not have despots and tyrants as leaders. We were free and democratic

Megalithic Structures

Our forefathers, however, built the rice terraces

The way these stairways to the sky was constructed shows a remarkable engineering feat

The rice terraces are now accepted by UNESCO as part of the magnificent monument of the world’s cultural heritage

GovernmentThe barangay had in all respects

attained the status of a state; it had territory, people, government, and

sovereignty

Government

As chief, the datu looked after the welfare of his followers

The datu and the members of the council of elders interpret customary laws

Inter-barangay relationships were varied

Government

They assisted each other in times of need

Alliances were formed through marriage and blood compact or brotherhood, locally knows as sandugo› The sandugo ritual involved drawing

blood from the arms of both parties and each casting the blood of the other, placed in a shell, mixed with little wine which the participants drank

Government

› There after, they became ritual kinsmen and were bound by accepted rules of conduct to protect each other as though they were related by blood

Taxes, called buwis were paid by the people to the chiefs in return for protection

LawsEach barangay had a system of

customary laws

Laws

Custom laws were based on social and religious usage

They were handed down orally and ritually

Barangay laws covered areas of personal, familial, and public concerns

Offenders were punished, and victims were indemnified

Laws

Civil and criminal cases were brought before the council of elders which listened and evaluated the merits of the cases presented for decision

WarfareClosely related to custom laws was

institutionalized warfare

Warfare

Closely related to custom laws was institutionalized warfare

Feuding barangays often raided each other’s territories

The causes of war were many› To avenge the honor of a kinsman › Running away with someone else’s wife› Territorial trespasses› Transgression of barangay religious

taboo

SUMMARYIn sum, there is nothing in the checklist of the so-called civilized societies during prehistoric times that our ancestors did not achieve and

accomplish. Their own core achievements document this claim

FILIPINO PRE HISTORY: Rediscovering Precolonial Heritageby: F. Landa JocanoREFERENCE