By Abbas Nazil
In a groundbreaking archaeological discovery, researchers from the Mindoro Archaeology Project have uncovered compelling evidence that the Philippine archipelago, particularly the island of Mindoro, played a central role in the early development of maritime culture in Southeast Asia over 35,000 years ago.
The findings, led by scientists from the Ateneo de Manila University in collaboration with international experts, suggest that early inhabitants of the region possessed sophisticated seafaring technologies and cultural complexity far earlier than previously believed.
The research reveals that anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens) occupied areas of Occidental Mindoro, including Ilin Island, San Jose, and Sta. Teresa in Magsaysay, tens of thousands of years ago.
Unlike Palawan, Mindoro was never connected to mainland Southeast Asia by land bridges or ice sheets, making sea crossings a necessity for early settlers.
This geographical isolation likely drove the development of advanced maritime skills and technologies necessary for survival and inter-island mobility.
Among the most notable discoveries are tools and artifacts made from stone, bone, and shell, which demonstrate a long-standing adaptation to marine and terrestrial environments.
Fishing implements such as bone gorges, hammer stones, pebble tools, net sinkers, and obsidian cutting tools suggest that these early inhabitants had developed the capacity to catch large pelagic fish like bonito and shark, requiring complex maritime knowledge.
Moreover, tools fashioned from giant clam shells (Tridacna species) dating back 7,000–9,000 years closely resemble similar tools found across Island Southeast Asia and even on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea—over 3,000 kilometers away—highlighting the extensive cultural and technological connections among ancient populations in the region.
Further emphasizing this cultural sophistication, the researchers documented a human burial from Ilin Island dated to around 5,000 years ago.
The grave, in which the body was laid in a fetal position and surrounded by limestone slabs, mirrors burial practices found elsewhere in Southeast Asia, indicating shared rituals and growing social complexity.
Collectively, the evidence from Mindoro points to the existence of a vast and dynamic maritime network in Island Southeast Asia during the Stone Age.
This network likely enabled not only the exchange of goods and technologies but also the spread of cultural ideas across great distances and challenging sea routes.
The Mindoro Archaeology Project, with over 15 years of continuous fieldwork, has significantly deepened understanding of human migration and adaptation in the region, suggesting that the Philippine archipelago was a critical hub in early Southeast Asian prehistory and maritime innovation.