Archaeological excavation for Rizal, Kalinga ‘prehistoric man’ resumes

Tabuk City, Kalinga – In an attempt to search for more evidence proving the existence of prehistoric man in Rizal municipality, Kalinga Province, some local and foreign archaeologists, and paleontologists resume work today, July 8.

Under the “Early Man” Project, archaeologists from the National Museum and the Museum Nationale d' Histoire Naturelle, France, shall continue their excavation at the Elephant Hill in Sitio Greenhills, San Pedro, Rizal, Kalinga.

The excavation will conclude on July 28, PIO Kalinga informed.

On Thursday, July 7, the group led by Mylene Lising from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ateneo de Manila University, and Kevin Baclig of the Cagayan Museum paid a courtesy call to the provincial government unit informing them of the resumption of the yearly activity.

Governor James Edduba, as a response, said he is supportive of said pursuit and committed to the assistance of the provincial government.

As recalled, the excavation which started at the site in 2013 resulted in the discovery of several animal fossils and stone tools.

The most popular one is the Philippine rhinoceros (Rhinoceros Philippinensis), which “shows clear signs of butchery.”

Nearly 60 tools found near the area were also associated with the butchered rhinoceros.

Lising once said in a media interview that the possible suspects in killing the rhino are the Homo erectus – the first of the hominins where most of our modern human traits began to appear in fossil records

Also, they are said to be the most mobile among hominis as they reached various lands in parts of the globe coming from ancient Africa.

The age of the rhinoceros fossil, which is now at the National Museum of Natural History, was confirmed at 709,000 years old.

This is based on the latest carbon dating tests.

A mini museum located at the new municipal building in Rizal displayed a few of the original bones for visitors to view.

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