Maitum Anthropomorphic Burial Jars and Its Importance to the Philippine Culture

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MAITUM ANTHROPOMORPHIC BURIAL JARS AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE PHILIPPINE CULTURE Extant pieces of Philippine pottery that are recovered are generally associated with funerary ware, either as ritual vessels or burial jars. In the past and in the present times, Filipinos have different funeral practices, believe in the afterlife and give attention to respecting and paying homage to dead people. Traditions developed because certain beliefs led to the observance of burial practices which in time became customary. One of the ancient customs for burying the dead in the Philippines is through the use of burial jars. A characteristic of some of the burial jars is the presence of anthropomorphic human figures. In a cave site in Maitum, province of Saranggani, pre-historic anthropomorphic burial jars were discovered. The jars were named after the location and were later on called Maitum anthropomorphic burial jars. THE DISCOVERY OF THE MAITUM ANTHROPOMORPHIC BURIAL JARS Last March 21, 2013, I had the privilege to interview the archaeologist who was able to see, visit and do first ocular inspection in the site of Maitum burial jars, Dr. Eusebio Dizon. He was able to narrate the story behind the discovery of the anthropomorphic burial jars. The following information on the findings was based on the personal interview conducted with Dr. Dizon: The discovery in 1991 of anthropomorphic burial jars in a cave site in Maitum, province of Saranggani caused great excitement since no similar anthropomorphic types have emerged in any Philippine archaeological sites. It was first reported via phone call by Mike Spadafora, a geologist working in Maitum, to Dr. Eusebio Dizon, the head and scientist of the Archaeology Section of the National Museum. Spadafora told about the existence of potteries bearing human forms that they encountered while treasure hunting in the cave of Ayub

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