This is definitely good news for students of pre-historic arts and culture.
The seizure and recovery of these artifacts will add to existing body of evidence on the existence of developed cultures in pre-colonial southern Philippines.
Seized cultural artifacts in Maitum: remnants from yet another ancient Mindanawon tribe
Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews
Monday, 22 September 2008 18:14DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/22 September) – Vigilance by residents, the police, the local government in Maitum, Sarangani and the provincial government has paid off: five of the 22 sacks of cultural artifacts seized by the police last month have been transported to the National Museum as initial inspection by archaeologist Dr. Eusebio Dizon showed the shards from anthropomorphic burial jars are different from the now-famous “faces from Maitum.”
“They’re a different people. They’re a bit different from the Maitum collection that’s why it’s good to know how different they really are,” Dizon said when he passéd by the provincial police headquarters in Alabel, Sarangani from Balut Island on September 11, on his way to Manila, to check on the artifacts as directed by the National Museum.
The Maitum anthropomorphic secondary burial jars are about 2,000 years old.
Previous reports: Also from MindaNews and SunStar General Santos.