Activity 1

(Taken from Jose Victor Torres’ Batis: Source in Philippine History pg. 9-10)

Read the excerpt below then do a comparative analysis.

The following reading discuss the findings on the remains of what was then considered the
earlier known human remain in the Philippines – Tabon Man.

1. Robert B. Fox. The Tabon Cave: Archaeological Exploration and Excavation on Palawan
Island, Philippines (Manila, 1970) p.40.

Tabon Man – During the initial Excavations of Tabon cave, June and July 1962, the scattered
fossils bones of at least three individuals were excavated, including a large fragment of a frontal
bone with the brows and portions of the nasal bones. These fossils bones were recovered towards
the rear of the cave along the left wall. Unfortunately, the area in which the human fossils bones
were discovered had been disturbed by Magapode Birds. It was not possible in 1962 to establish
the association of these bones with a specific flake assemblage. Although they were provisionally
related to either Flake assemblage II or III, subsequent excavations in the same area now
strongly suggest that the fossil human bones were associated with Flake assemblage III for only
the flakes of this assemblage have been found to date in this area of the cave. The available data
would suggest that Tabon Man may be dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago. But, only further
excavation in the cave and chemical analysis of human and animal bones from disturbed and
undisturbed levels in the cave will define the exact age of the human fossils.

The fossil bones are those of Homo sapiens. These will form a separate study by a specialist
which will be included in the final site report for Tabon Cave. It is important, however, because
of the recent publication (Scott, 1969), that a preliminary study of the fossil bones of Tabon Man
shows that it is above average in skull dimensions when compared to the modern Filipino. There
is no evidence that Tabon Man was “.... a less brainy individual...”.Moreover, Scott’s study
includes many misstatements about the Tabon Caves, always the problem when writers work
from “conversation”

2. William Henry Scott, Prehispanic Source Materials for the study of the Philippine
History (Revised Edition, Quezon City, 1984), pp.14-15

Tabon Man – The earliest human skull remains known in the Philippines are the fossilized
fragments of a skull and jawbone of three individuals who are collectively called “Tabon Man”
after the place where they were found on the west coast of Palawan. Tabon Cave appears to be a
kind of little Stone Age Factory; both finished tools and wastes cores and flakes have been found
at four different level in the Main Chamber. Charcoal left from cooking fires has been discovered
from the three of these assemblages and dates by C-14 to roughly 7,000 B.C., 20,000 B.C., and
28,000 B.C. with an earlier level lying so far below these that it must represent Upper
Pleistocene date like 45 or 50 thousand years ago... Physical anthropologist who has examined
the Tabon skullcaps are agreed that it belonged to modern man that is, Homo sapiens as
distinguished from those mid-Pleistocene species now a day called Homo erectus. Two experts
have given the further opinion that the mandible is “Australian” in physical type, and that the
skullcap measurements are mostly nearly like those of Ainu and Tasmanians. What this basically
means is that Tabon Man was “pre-Mongoloid,”
Mongoloid being the term anthropologist apply to the racial stock which entered Southeast Asia
during the Holocene and absorbed earlier peoples to produces the modern Malay, Indonesians,
Filipino, and Pacific peoples popularly -and unscientifically- called, “the brown race”. Tabon
Man presumably belonged to one of those earlier peoples, but, if decently clothed in flesh, T-
shirt, and blue jeans, might pass unnoticed in Quiapo Today, whatever his facial features are
concerned, nothing can be said about the color of his skin or hair, or the shape of his nose or
eyes- except one thing- Tabon Man was not a Negrito.

Instruction:
 Read and analyze the account on Tabon Man written by two different sources.
 Use the worksheet below in creating your comparative analysis.
 Fill in all information needed. Since it is a group work, make sure that work is
comprehensive and it includes essential information in the analysis.
 Each Group must have exactly 6 members. Excess member(s) should inform me
immediately in order to create a group.
 Group or paper that does not follow instruction might result to minus points. Remember,
instruction is part of the scoring.

Module 1 (Reading for Primary Source vs. Secondary Source)

Tabon Man

Robert B. Fox. The Tabon William Henry Scott, Prehispanic Source

Cave: Archaeological Materials for the study of the Philippine
Exploration and Excavation History (Revised Edition, Quezon City,
on 1984), pp.14-15
Palawan Island, Philippines
(Manila, 1970) p.40.
Authors
Background
When was the
account written?
Mention of Date(s)
Mention of Place
Key Personal Ties
Sequencing of
Events
Difference of 2
accounts
Analysis of the
Difference between
2 accounts