Prehistoric relics dug up from cave

LOAY, BOHOL ,Philippines  - Prehistoric artifacts, including a human skull and earthenwares, have been dug up at Sukgang Cave in Barangay Tayong of this town by archeologists of the Philippine National Museum (PNM).

Municipal Councilor Hermes Entero of this town disclosed this matter during an exclusive interview yesterday at his residence in Tagbilaran City. His revelation was corroborated by curator Charlemeine Titangco, officer-in-charge of National Museum-Bohol branch in Tagbilaran.

PNM archeologist Ame Garong also confirmed the ancient finds but the relics were now at the National Museum-Manila for more study and carbon-dating process to prove that Bohol was once inhabited by people during or even before the time of Jesus Christ.

Garong, in her e-mail reply to The FREEMAN inquiry, said the National Museum would soon conduct a full-blown archeological digging at the site to determine the value of the cave, which is just a few meters across the national highway near the border of Lila town.

Entero said the digging that took place sometime in July 2011 recently yielded relics of a human skull and wooden coffin, stone-made knives and other artifacts.

He, however, was dismayed that, even before the digging started, there were signs that the cave had been ravaged by treasure hunters, some of whom were former town officials.

This prompted Entero to author and sponsor a municipal ordinance declaring Sukgang Cave an archeological site so that is shall be protected by law. The measure would also include other treasures of the town for conservation and protection.

Republic Act 10066 or the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009” defines an archeological site a place—above or underground, undersea or sea level—containing fossils, artifacts, cultural, geological, botanical, zoological materials that document culturally relevant, paleonthological, prehistoric and/or historic events.

Sukgang Cave has rich potentials for tourism in addition to the already famous sites of Loay, such as the town’s historical stone church with centuries-old pipe organ, stone watch tower, Clarin ancestral house and the “actual” Sandugo site, among others, said Entero.

In separate interview, Mario Suyman, owner of the lot where the cave underneath is situated, said he planned to develop the site and invest in tourism.

Suyman said he will put up a facility-resort atop the cave, overlooking the Mindanao Sea, for visitors’s sight-seeing experience, and he expected this place to draw a lot of tourists, especially with the archaeological discoveries here.