Roderick Stead

Re-excavation of a Mindanao Site to Extend Knowledge of Pre-Colonial Indigenous Boats in the Philippines

Supervisor: Dr. Lucy Blue

Abstract:

My research programme is focussed on the indigenous craft built in the Philippines
before the arrival of the Europeans and the construction techniques for these vessels.
Most of our current knowledge is based on contemporary literary descriptions and the
excavation of one site at Butuan a generation ago. A total of three vessels were excavated
and recovered but there remain many questions about these ‘barangay’ craft. A further
eight boats are known to exist at this location. We have been pressing for the re-opening
of the site to test a number of hypotheses about the dating and development of these
vessels. The National Museum of the Philippines has agreed to re-excavate the site in
April and this paper will be presenting the initial results of their work and what further
information we have discovered about pre-colonial society in the Philippines.

email: RoderickStead@aol.com