Philippine Prehistory

PHILIPPINE PRE-HISTORY Robert Fox and Wilhelm Solheim were both anthropologists who conceptualized distinctive peopling theories namely the Fox Theory and the Island Origin Theory. They both came up with the said theories through the use of archaeological discoveries and artifacts. According to Fox, the first men who came to the Philippines inhabited the archipelago since the Paleolithic era, which dates back 500,000 years ago. He believed that the Philippines was once connected to mainland Asia as Palawan’s form and geographical location suggested that it perfectly bridged the Philippine Islands and Borneo. He found traces of men in the Tabon Caves, which are located in the western part of Palawan. In there, he found skullcap remains of which he presumed to belonged to the Tabon Man. In addition, Fox discovered burial jars, ornaments, jewelries, stone tools, animal bones, and human fossils. Similarly, Solheim also made use of archaeological discoveries and artifacts. However, he hypothesized that the primitive Filipinos originated and dispersed from an island in Southeast Asia. The prehistoric men in the country are said to have spread northwards through the country and into Taiwan. By its very nature, Philippine prehistory is “the period of unrecorded history consisting of archeological discoveries, way of life, geographical and geological data in order to know our country’s origin and the roots of the original Filipino.” As such, it is important for Filipinos to learn about their heritage so as to establish their own national identity. Furthermore, studying Philippine prehistory urges Filipinos to not merely accept the information that is given to them. But rather, question and analyze the said information considering that the world is evolving and that times are changing. For instance, prehistory helps Filipinos discover what their strengths and weaknesses are as individuals through the upbringing and culture that they are accustomed to. Once they