The Guyangan Cave System (Filipino: Mga Yungib ng Guyangan) is a group of caves located in the island municipality of Banton, Romblon in the Philippines. It is located in Guyangan Hill, a limestone formation situated in barangays Togbongan and Toctoc, and consists of seven caves spread in an 85.3-hectare (211-acre) area of forest land.
Guyangan Cave System
Mga Yungib ng Guyangan
Ipot Cave, one of the caves in the Guyangan Cave System, where the earliest known warp ikat textile in the Philippines and Southeast Asia was found in 1936.
Location of Guyangan Cave System in the Philippines
The caves are a significant archaeological site and a national cultural treasure of the Philippines as it is the site of ancient burial grounds where wooden coffins, human skeletal remains as well as the oldest burial cloth in Southeast Asia were discovered during explorations by the National Museum of the Philippines in 1936. These artifacts are now displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila.
The island of Banton, where the cave system is located, lies on the northern portion of the Sibuyan Sea, and is equidistant between Marinduque Island to the north and Tablas Island to the south. It is composed of the main island of Banton and the uninhabited islands of Bantoncillo, Carlota and Isabel, the last two of which are collectively known as the Dos Hermanas Islands. There is also an islet near Tabonan Beach on the north-west of the island.[1]
Banton has a total land area of 3,248 hectares (32.48 km2).[2] Based on rock petrology, the island is a dormant volcano which lies at the southernmost portion of the Pleistocene-Quaternary West Luzon volcanic arc and may have been active during the Pliocene period.[3][4] Because of its volcanic origin, the island has a mountainous, rocky topography, with very few patches of flat land suitable for farming. The island's highest elevation, Mount Ampongo, rises at 596 metres (1,955 ft).[5] Guyangan Hill, where the cave complex is situated is located on the northeast side of the island, between the barangays (villages) of Togbongan and Toctoc. The hill is also located near the village of Poblacion, the main population center of the island.
Caves
Ipot Cave, one of the caves in the Guyangan Cave System.
The Banton Cloth, the oldest existing example of warp ikat in Southeast Asia, displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines.
One of the wooden coffins discovered in the Guyangan Cave System in 1936, now displayed at the Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts in Banton, Romblon.
The Guyangan Cave System is composed of seven caves spread of an 85.3-hectare (211-acre) area of forested land.
Ipot Cave, situated on a limestone cliff facing the Sibuyan Sea, is a dwelling place of swifts (locally known as balinsasadaw, hence its name ipot which refers to bird droppings) and is where the archaeological artifacts were discovered in 1936.[6]
Cathedral Cave is the largest cave in the complex and may have been used as a shelter by precolonial people.[6]
Tigpuyo Cave, which is situated on top of the hill, is believed to have been used as dwelling place as suggested by the seashells, bones of edible animals and pieces of pottery found here. It seemed a perfect location as a hideout, given its narrow and difficult vertical entrance.[6]
Wall Cave, which is a shallow cave on a huge rock wall (hence the name) is believed to be the primary burial site for the human skeletal remains found in Ipot Cave, as proven by excavated human remains that were buried on shallow graves on the foot of the cave.[6]
Slide Cave, named after a smooth diagonal-surfaced rock, is another primary burial cave.[6]
De Campo Cave was named as such because it resembles a tent, although no archaeological artifacts were found in the cave.[6]
Silak Cave is the easiest cave to reach and the first cave in the system to be named. The cave was named such as it faces the east and receives plenty of light (silak in the Asi language) during sunrise. It is located in a cliff that offers a view of the Togbongan coastline.[6]
Archaeological discoveries
In 1936, a team of researchers from the National of the Museum of the Philippines arrived in the island after a local farmer discovered several precolonial artifacts in one of the caves in Guyangan Hill. Among the artifacts discovered are several shards of Chinese ceramics, wooden coffins with human skeletal remains as well as pieces of a burial cloth, locally known as ikat, and which they named the Banton Cloth. The researchers estimated the burial cloth to be around 400 years old, making it the earliest known warp ikat (tie-resist dyeing) textile in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. These artifacts are now displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila as well as in the Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts in Banton.[7][8][9]
The discovery of the artifacts proved that there was already a civilization residing in Banton during precolonial times. The researchers also observed that the human skeletal remains exhibited artificial cranial deformation, a common traditional practice among precolonial Filipinos, especially among the nobility, which presumes that the remains belonged to members of the nobility in Banton's precolonial society. It has also been theorized that the caves were used as a secondary burial site after the bodies were exhumed from a primary burial site elsewhere in the island.[10]
National Cultural Property
On 19 March 2013, the National Museum of the Philippines declared the Guyangan Cave System as an Important Cultural Property.[11][12][13] As such, the cave complex is entitled to protection and preservation by the Philippine government through the National Museum of the Philippines. In 2016, The National Museum of the Philippines announced the construction of a site museum in the island on a 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre) property donated by the Fabicon family. The site museum will serve as depository of the island's cultural treasures and will conduct research on how to best preserve the island's intangible heritage.[14]
References
^"Banton: Brief History". Banton Official Website. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^"Municipality: Banton". PSGC Interactive. Makati City, Philippines: National Statistical Coordination Board. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Halcon, Rainier; Fronda, Ariel; et al. "Detailed Resource Assessment of Selected Low-Enthalpy Geothermal Areas in the Philippines" (PDF). Geothermal Energy Management Division, Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Department of Energy. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Loyola, James (21 June 2014). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 9 December 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Fabonan III, Epi (29 May 2009). "Banton Island". Tourism Philippines. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^ abcdefg"Banton Caves". Yagting Web Service Provider: Banton Romblon. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^"Banton Cloth". National Museum of the Philippines. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Ocampo, Ambeth (19 October 2011). "Looking Back: History and design in Death Blankets". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Batongbakal, Jr., Luisito. "15 Most Intense Archaeological Discoveries in Philippine History". Filipiknow.net. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Taruc, Jay (18 March 2014). "Mga Yaman ng Guyangan". I-Witness. GMA Network. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
^Cultural Properties Division. "2013 Heritage Pride: NM declarations of National Cultural Treasures (NCTs) and Important Cultural Properties (ICPs)". National Museum of the Philippines. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
^Lao, Levine Andro (26 May 2013). "Romblon cathedral, ancient Hispanic forts declared National Cultural Treasures". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
^Henares, Ivan (26 January 2014). "Updated Philippine Registry of Cultural Property (PRECUP)". Ivan About Town. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
^Fos, Paul Jaysent (21 September 2016). "Fabicon family of Banton Island donates 1.5 hectare property to National Museum". Romblon News Network. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
guyangan, cave, system, filipino, yungib, guyangan, group, caves, located, island, municipality, banton, romblon, philippines, located, guyangan, hill, limestone, formation, situated, barangays, togbongan, toctoc, consists, seven, caves, spread, hectare, acre,. The Guyangan Cave System Filipino Mga Yungib ng Guyangan is a group of caves located in the island municipality of Banton Romblon in the Philippines It is located in Guyangan Hill a limestone formation situated in barangays Togbongan and Toctoc and consists of seven caves spread in an 85 3 hectare 211 acre area of forest land Guyangan Cave SystemMga Yungib ng GuyanganIpot Cave one of the caves in the Guyangan Cave System where the earliest known warp ikat textile in the Philippines and Southeast Asia was found in 1936 Location of Guyangan Cave System in the PhilippinesLocationBanton Romblon PhilippinesCoordinates12 57 15 N 122 05 27 E 12 9541082 N 122 0908323 E 12 9541082 122 0908323 Coordinates 12 57 15 N 122 05 27 E 12 9541082 N 122 0908323 E 12 9541082 122 0908323ManagementNational Museum of the PhilippinesThe caves are a significant archaeological site and a national cultural treasure of the Philippines as it is the site of ancient burial grounds where wooden coffins human skeletal remains as well as the oldest burial cloth in Southeast Asia were discovered during explorations by the National Museum of the Philippines in 1936 These artifacts are now displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila Contents 1 Geography 2 Caves 3 Archaeological discoveries 4 National Cultural Property 5 References 6 See alsoGeography EditThe island of Banton where the cave system is located lies on the northern portion of the Sibuyan Sea and is equidistant between Marinduque Island to the north and Tablas Island to the south It is composed of the main island of Banton and the uninhabited islands of Bantoncillo Carlota and Isabel the last two of which are collectively known as the Dos Hermanas Islands There is also an islet near Tabonan Beach on the north west of the island 1 Banton has a total land area of 3 248 hectares 32 48 km2 2 Based on rock petrology the island is a dormant volcano which lies at the southernmost portion of the Pleistocene Quaternary West Luzon volcanic arc and may have been active during the Pliocene period 3 4 Because of its volcanic origin the island has a mountainous rocky topography with very few patches of flat land suitable for farming The island s highest elevation Mount Ampongo rises at 596 metres 1 955 ft 5 Guyangan Hill where the cave complex is situated is located on the northeast side of the island between the barangays villages of Togbongan and Toctoc The hill is also located near the village of Poblacion the main population center of the island Caves Edit Ipot Cave one of the caves in the Guyangan Cave System The Banton Cloth the oldest existing example of warp ikat in Southeast Asia displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines One of the wooden coffins discovered in the Guyangan Cave System in 1936 now displayed at the Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts in Banton Romblon The Guyangan Cave System is composed of seven caves spread of an 85 3 hectare 211 acre area of forested land Ipot Cave situated on a limestone cliff facing the Sibuyan Sea is a dwelling place of swifts locally known as balinsasadaw hence its name ipot which refers to bird droppings and is where the archaeological artifacts were discovered in 1936 6 Cathedral Cave is the largest cave in the complex and may have been used as a shelter by precolonial people 6 Tigpuyo Cave which is situated on top of the hill is believed to have been used as dwelling place as suggested by the seashells bones of edible animals and pieces of pottery found here It seemed a perfect location as a hideout given its narrow and difficult vertical entrance 6 Wall Cave which is a shallow cave on a huge rock wall hence the name is believed to be the primary burial site for the human skeletal remains found in Ipot Cave as proven by excavated human remains that were buried on shallow graves on the foot of the cave 6 Slide Cave named after a smooth diagonal surfaced rock is another primary burial cave 6 De Campo Cave was named as such because it resembles a tent although no archaeological artifacts were found in the cave 6 Silak Cave is the easiest cave to reach and the first cave in the system to be named The cave was named such as it faces the east and receives plenty of light silak in the Asi language during sunrise It is located in a cliff that offers a view of the Togbongan coastline 6 Archaeological discoveries EditIn 1936 a team of researchers from the National of the Museum of the Philippines arrived in the island after a local farmer discovered several precolonial artifacts in one of the caves in Guyangan Hill Among the artifacts discovered are several shards of Chinese ceramics wooden coffins with human skeletal remains as well as pieces of a burial cloth locally known as ikat and which they named the Banton Cloth The researchers estimated the burial cloth to be around 400 years old making it the earliest known warp ikat tie resist dyeing textile in the Philippines and Southeast Asia These artifacts are now displayed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila as well as in the Asi Studies Center for Culture and the Arts in Banton 7 8 9 The discovery of the artifacts proved that there was already a civilization residing in Banton during precolonial times The researchers also observed that the human skeletal remains exhibited artificial cranial deformation a common traditional practice among precolonial Filipinos especially among the nobility which presumes that the remains belonged to members of the nobility in Banton s precolonial society It has also been theorized that the caves were used as a secondary burial site after the bodies were exhumed from a primary burial site elsewhere in the island 10 National Cultural Property EditOn 19 March 2013 the National Museum of the Philippines declared the Guyangan Cave System as an Important Cultural Property 11 12 13 As such the cave complex is entitled to protection and preservation by the Philippine government through the National Museum of the Philippines In 2016 The National Museum of the Philippines announced the construction of a site museum in the island on a 1 5 hectare 3 7 acre property donated by the Fabicon family The site museum will serve as depository of the island s cultural treasures and will conduct research on how to best preserve the island s intangible heritage 14 References Edit Banton Brief History Banton Official Website Retrieved 30 December 2020 Municipality Banton PSGC Interactive Makati City Philippines National Statistical Coordination Board Retrieved 30 December 2020 Halcon Rainier Fronda Ariel et al Detailed Resource Assessment of Selected Low Enthalpy Geothermal Areas in the Philippines PDF Geothermal Energy Management Division Renewable Energy Management Bureau Department of Energy Retrieved 30 December 2020 Loyola James 21 June 2014 DOE to bid out 3 new geothermal sites Manila Bulletin Archived from the original on 9 December 2015 Retrieved 30 December 2020 Fabonan III Epi 29 May 2009 Banton Island Tourism Philippines Retrieved 30 December 2020 a b c d e f g Banton Caves Yagting Web Service Provider Banton Romblon Retrieved 30 December 2020 Banton Cloth National Museum of the Philippines 10 February 2014 Retrieved 30 December 2020 Ocampo Ambeth 19 October 2011 Looking Back History and design in Death Blankets Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved 30 December 2020 Batongbakal Jr Luisito 15 Most Intense Archaeological Discoveries in Philippine History Filipiknow net Retrieved 30 December 2020 Taruc Jay 18 March 2014 Mga Yaman ng Guyangan I Witness GMA Network Retrieved 30 December 2020 Cultural Properties Division 2013 Heritage Pride NM declarations of National Cultural Treasures NCTs and Important Cultural Properties ICPs National Museum of the Philippines Retrieved 14 August 2015 Lao Levine Andro 26 May 2013 Romblon cathedral ancient Hispanic forts declared National Cultural Treasures Philippine Daily Inquirer Retrieved 14 August 2015 Henares Ivan 26 January 2014 Updated Philippine Registry of Cultural Property PRECUP Ivan About Town Retrieved 14 August 2015 Fos Paul Jaysent 21 September 2016 Fabicon family of Banton Island donates 1 5 hectare property to National Museum Romblon News Network Retrieved 21 September 2016 See also EditBanton Romblon Tabon Caves Callao Cave Kalanay Cave Minori Cave Lapuz Lapuz Cave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Guyangan Cave System amp oldid 1119084120, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
