Excavation of 4th balangay boat in Butuan is 1/3 complete

By Robert E. Roperos

Monday 4th of June 2012

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, June 4 (PIA) -- Archaeologists of the National Museum of the Philippines have already finished 1/3 of the excavation of the fourth Balangay boat. Balangay boats were sturdy boats made from hard wood that were believed to have traversed from other Asian countries to trade with Pinoys thousands of years ago.

According to Alfredo Orogo, researcher of the National Museum of the Philippines, they were given until June 18 to expose the entire Balangay boat, without damaging any part.

Earlier reports said the exact location where the boat is buried is at 1.4 meters deep at the muddy site in Purok 5A, Brgy. Libertad here.

With the deadline set on June 18, Orogo said they are doing everything to expose and document the boat before it will be opened for public viewing on or before the stated deadline.

It can be recalled that last month, six archaeologists from the National Museum came here in the city to start the excavation after conducting the excavation mapping late last year.

Of the nine Balangay boats discovered here, the three had already been excavated in the late 1970s in the same site where the fourth balangay was excavated.

It was learned that 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 ancient boat is the first wooden watercraft excavated in Southeast Asia and 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. (RER-PIA 13 Caraga)