Excavations at Musang Cave, Northeast Luzon, Philippines

Abstract

Philippines (Fig. 1). The cave is in the western foothills of the Sierra Madre. There are many archaeological sites in this region. From November 1976 to Feb-ruary 1977 researchers from the National Museum of the Philippines conducted an archaeological survey of approximately 35 km2 in the area surrounding Musang Cave. In all, 71 caves and 7 rock shelters were located, 43 of which have archaeologi-cal remains. These are primarily habitation sites. In addition, 21 open sites, lithic workshops, and habitation sites were found (Ronquillo and Santiago 1977). Musang Cave was used for habitation from approximately 10,000 B.C. to re-cently. Two different assemblages were excavated. The earlier one consists of flake tools, shell, and animal bone, and dates from approximately 10,000-4500 B.C. Dur-ing this time the cave was used as a frequentation site by hunters and gatherers. The second assemblage dates from approximately 4500 B.C. to recently. It contains the same type of flake tools, shell, and bone as in the earlier period, but also contains pottery, human bone, and a few beads, earrings and other ornaments, a brass needle,