Archeologists to resume excavation of remaining Balangay boats in Butuan

By Robert E. Roperos

Monday 28th of May 2012

BUTUAN CITY, May 28 (PIA) -- Six field archeologists from the National Museum of the Philippines in Metro Manila arrived here recently to resume the excavation of the remaining six out of nine balangay boats in Ambangan, Barangay Libertad, this city; three had already been excavated in the late 70s.

Erlisa Magdale, museum guide and curator of the Caraga region’s national museum said the field archeologists were given one month to finish the excavation of the remaining balangay boats in Barangay Libertad believed to be the site of the old Butuan River where these Balangay boats traversed, and used by the neighboring empires and islands to trade with the natives.

The new excavation activity was made early this year following the excavation mapping conducted in December 2011 with personnel from the National Museum, Magdale said.

The realization of the project was made possible because in the entire Asian region, it is only in the Philippines, particularly in Barangay Libertad, where Balangay boats were discovered and excavated.

There were actually nine balangays recovered here but only three were already excavated. The first balangay, now preserved and displayed in the National Museum-Caraga established right at the excavation site in Purok Ambangan, Brgy. Libertad, was radiocarbon tested and was dated to year 320 AD.

The second boat was dated 1250 AD, and is now located at the Maritime Hall of the National Museum in Manila. The third balangay was transferred to the Butuan Regional Museum and is still preserved.

The six other boats, which are yet to be excavated, remain in their original waterlogged condition which is proven to be the best way to preserve the said artifacts. These are the boats which the archaeologists will excavate.

The first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia, the balangay is only found in the Philippines where a flotilla of such prehistoric wooden boats exists. Examination and extensive investigation reveals that the extant boats found in the excavation site date back to 320 AD, 90 AD, and 1250 AD.

The discovery of the balangay boats made Butuanons claimed that “In the beginning, there was no Philippines but there was already Butuan,” thus tagging the city as “The Ancient Kingdom of Butuan.”

Because of these historic events, the Balangay Festival was adopted by the city government to promote this historic city in Northeastern Mindanao region, and is held every month of May, in time with the city’s annual fiesta celebration in honor of patron saint – St. Joseph the Worker.

This year, the city government declared “Balangay Festival Silver Year” after former President Corazon C. Aquino declared the balangays of Butuan as National Cultural Treasures through Presidential Proclamation No. 86, dated March 9, 1987.

As per Proclamation No. 1, series of 2012 signed by Butuan City Mayor Ferdinand Amante Jr., March 9, 2012 to March 8, 2013 was declared Balangay (wooden boats) Festival Silver Year. (RER – PIA Caraga, Butuan City)