Remains of ancient tamaraw found

The skeletal remains of what an archeologist believes to be the ancestor of the Philippine tamaraw have been found in a prehistoric settlement in Barangay Nagsaban in Lallo, Cagayan, an official of the National Museum said yesterday.

Archeologist Rey Santiago said he personally unearthed the 3,000-year-old skull of the ancient tamaraw during a recent excavation.

"This could be the ancestor of the tamaraw or even the native carabao in the country," he said.

Santiago said the remains were buried together with bones of animals and fish consumed by ancient settlers in the area, as well as stone tools, earthen jars and other utensils.

Carbon dating on the skeletal remains, he said, indicated that the ancient tamaraw and freshwater shell or kabebe were the major sources of food of settlers in Cagayan Valley during the Stone Age.

He said heaps of kabebe (shell midden) have been found in the Cagayan towns of Gattaran, Lasam and Lallo. — Perseus Echeminada