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| The Cradle of Philippine Civilization (Photo by Christian Aligo) |
For nearly two million years, humans have inhabited the
tropical islands of Southeast Asia. Their fossil remains are among the earliest
discoveries ever made in prehistory. The places where they once lived and the
objects that they left behind hold clues to their everyday life, their
relationship with the environment, and their beliefs. Today, this rich legacy
is situated in an increasingly globalized and rapidly-developing Southeast
Asia, and its stakeholders are faced with the challenges of the modern world.
Nevertheless, its importance for both science and heritage calls for it to be
treasured, managed, and protected. It is within this context that the current
exhibit, Legacy of the Islands, is being held at Palawan Heritage Center
(Legislative Bldg, Palawan Provincial Capitol, Puerto Princesa City) The
exhibit opens last May 30, 2016.
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| Ribbon Cutting. The fornal opening of Legacy Exhibit. |
Envisioned as one of the culminating activities of the
PREHsea Project, Legacy of the Islands tells the story of the first humans who
settled the Southeast Asian archipelagos, and what that story means for us
today. From Homo erectus in Java to Homo Sapiens in Palawan, the exhibit traces
their adventures across the islands of the region, their adaptations to
changing environment’s, and the material expressions of their thoughts and
beliefs. On display are key artefacts from these two major islands, such as
human fossils, stone tools and many others. The exhibit also gives a glimpse
into how scientists study prehistoric sites and collections in order to
reconstruct the past. Visitors will learn about the process of archeological
research, from field excavations to laboratory analyses, through informative
photographs and posters. Finally the exhibit also sheds light on the complex
relationship between the rich prehistoric heritage of Southeast Asia and its
stakeholders today. Challenges in site conservation, the importance of public
awareness, and the relationship of indigenous communities to their environment
are only some of the diverse themes on feature.
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| Inside the Heritage Center. (Photo by Lee Rosales) |
Palawan, notably through Tabon cave and other
neighbouring archeological sites in Lipuun Point, Quezon, plays a key role in
the PREHsea Project and in Legacy of the islands. The presence of our species
(Homo Sapiens) on the island as early as 40, 000 years ago, one of the rare
occurrences in the island Southeast Asia, suggests that Palawan certainly holds
a central place in the story of early human migrations across the archipelagos
of the region. While well-known for its beautiful terrestrial and marine
landscapes as well as its rich flora and fauna, Palawan also has an incredible
cultural legacy, from prehistory until today. As is the case with the
province’s natural resources, its cultural resources must also be properly
identified, managed and protected. Aside from fostering pride in heritage and
enriching identity, they represent an opportunity for sustainable and inclusive
socio-economic development. The PREHsea Project aims to contribute to this by
properly assessing and validating the scientific value of prehistoric sites in
Palawan through research, as well as by facilitating international exchange of
best practices in the management of prehistoric heritage.
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| What to see inside the exhibit (Photos by Christian Aligo) |
From the outset, Palawenos have been key participants in
the project. PREHsea activities have always been implemented in cooperation
with local government units, and in Palawan, support has been heartwarming from
both municipal and provincial authorities. For this exhibit, the provincial
government has extended its generous support in providing the Palawan Heritage
Center as the exhibit venue. Various artists and craftsmen from the City
participated in the preparation of the exhibit. On the broader scale of the
project, students from the Quezon Campus of Palawan State University
participated in various activities, such as archeological excavations and
collections management at Lipuun point. Municipal and provincial officials also
took part in international meetings to exchange best practices with their
Indonesian counterparts.
About the PREHsea Project.
Launched in 2012 at Quezon, Palawan, the PREHsea Project
(Managing Prehistoric Heritage in Southeast Asia) is the continuation of a long
term scientific and academic collaborations between Indonesia, the Philippines,
and France. It is jointly piloted by the Sangiran Early Man Site Conservation
Office in Indonesia, the National Museum of the Philippines, and the Museum
national d’histoire naturelle in France. The project forms part of HEADS (Human
Evolution, Adaptation, Dispersals, and Social Development, a World Heritage
Thematic Programme of UNESCO) and is financed by the European Commission.
The PREHsea Project aims to strengthen the cultural
sector of Prehistory and Human Evolution in order to promote cultural
diversity, international cooperation, and sustainable economic, social and
human development. Through regional collaboration, inter-sectoral partnerships,
and thorough local dialogue, the project develops good management practices for
prehistoric properties. These practices help in safeguarding the properties
integrity, assessing their authenticity and value, making them accessible for
all socio-cultural categories, and fostering local socio economic development.
Activities carried out under the project include various
meetings in Palawan (Quezon and Puerto Princesa) and Java (Sangiran and
Jakarta); field schools for archeological excavation and collection
Study in carefully chosen sites, also located in Palawan
and Java; train-abroad programmes in different scientific fields in Europe and
Southeast Asia, and dissemination efforts, from scientific and generalist
publications to the current exhibit.
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