A
new study
According to research from the Ateneo de Manila University, recently discovered archaeological findings indicate that ancient Filipinos had developed advanced boat-building techniques and extensive maritime skills long before Magellan, Zheng He, and Polynesians achieved these feats.
ADMU researchers Riczar Fuentes and Alfred Pawlik highlight that even though the Philippines and Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) have never been linked to mainland Asia, they still provide proof of early human settlement. This raises questions about how these populations managed to traverse vast oceanic expanses.
The microscopic examination of stone tools dug up from archaeological sites in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste revealed distinct signs of plant processing. These were particularly linked to extracting fibers commonly utilized for constructing boats and engaging in deep-sea fishing activities, according to the research team.
The institution mentioned that the research is set to appear in the April 2025 edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
According to Fuentes and Pawlik, sites in Mindoro and Timor-Leste also showed remains of deep ocean fish such as tuna, sharks as well as fishing tools used to catch these types of animals.
Therefore, this evidence disputes the notion that technological advancements during the Paleolithic era solely developed in Europe and Africa. The findings suggest that early societies in Southeast Asia could construct complex vessels and cords from natural resources for navigation and deep-water fishing activities.
“The presence of big predator fish remnants at these locations suggests the ability for sophisticated sea travel and understanding of the seasonal patterns and movement paths of these fish species… The finding of fishing tools implies the requirement for robust and high-quality cords used as ropes and fishing lines to capture marine life,” the researchers stated in their report.
“Prehistoric migrations throughout the Indo-Pacific region weren’t carried out by casual seafarers adrift on fragile bamboo rafts, but rather by adept navigators who possessed the expertise and tools necessary for traversing extensive expanses of open ocean to reach distant islands,” the declaration stated.
The Initial Remote Ocean-going Vessel Project (IROV), initiated by scholars and a group of marine engineers from the University of Cebu, aims to examine potential historical construction materials and recreate miniature versions of these watercraft.
— Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News
This article
A recent study from the Ateneo de Manila University indicates that ancient Filipinos were adept at navigation and sailing prior to many other world cultures.
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