Anthropology 118
nd
2 semester, a.y. 2022-2023
MODULE 1: THE IDEA OF Ø Daniel argues that the study of
PREHISTORY material artifacts can only tell us so much
about the past, and that we need to look
THE IDEA OF PREHISTORY BY GLYN beyond the physical evidence to understand
DANIEL the human experience of the past.
Ø Glyn Daniel’s paper “The Idea of THE PREHISTORY OF THE
Prehistory” reflects on the origins and PHILIPPINES BY EUSEBIO DIZON
development of the concept of prehistory.
Ø According to Daniel, prehistory Ø The prehistoric period of the
emerged as a concept in the 19th century, Philippines dates to about 50,000 years ago.
when archaeologists began to realize that Ø The oldest human fossil in the country
there was a long period of human existence was found in the Tabon Caves in Palawan.
before the emergence of written records. Ø The Tabon Caves were inhabited by
Ø The concept of prehistory assumes humans for over 22,000 years, and over 2000
that before the invention of writing, human artifacts have been discovered there.
societies were incapable of recording their own Ø The artifacts found in the Tabon
history. Caves include stone tools, pottery, and animal
Ø Daniel argues that this assumption is bones, indicating the early humans'
problematic because it assumes that the only subsistence patterns and cultural practices.
valid form of history is written history. Ø The early humans in the Philippines
Ø He suggests that there are other forms were hunter-gatherers and relied on the
of history that do not rely on written records, environment for their survival.
such as oral traditions, and that these forms of Ø They also engaged in trade and
history can be just as valuable as written exchange with neighboring communities, as
records. evidenced by the presence of jade artifacts
Ø Daniel also notes that the concept of from Taiwan and beads from China.
prehistory has been used to reinforce the idea Ø The prehistoric period of the
of progress, with prehistory being seen as a Philippines saw the emergence of social
primitive and inferior stage of human stratification and the development of burial
development. practices.
Ø He argues that this view is based on a Ø The paper also discusses the impact of
Eurocentric perspective that ignores the the environment on the early humans and the
richness and complexity of non-Western animals, including the extinction of some
cultures. species due to human activities.
Ø Daniel suggests that we need to move Ø Dizon concludes by emphasizing the
beyond the concept of prehistory and develop importance of archaeological research in
new ways of understanding the pasts that are understanding the prehistory of the
more inclusive and less Eurocentric. Philippines and its significance in the
Ø He proposes that we should focus on country's cultural heritage.
the study of human culture and society, rather
than on the study of material artifacts.
, Anthropology 118
nd
2 semester, a.y. 2022-2023
AN OUTLINED HISTORY OF
PREHISTORY: A VERY SHORT PHILIPPINE ARCHAEOLOGY AND
INTRODUCTION BY CHRIS GOSDEN ITS PERIODIZATION BY VICTOR PAZ
Ø Prehistory refers to the time before Ø The history of Philippine archaeology
written records, which varies from region to can be divided into four major periods: the
region. Prehistoric Period (before the 16th century),
Ø Prehistory covers a vast time span, the Spanish Period (16th-19th century), the
from the emergence of early humans to the American Period (early 20th century), and the
development of agriculture and complex Modern Period (post-World War II).
societies. Ø During the Prehistoric Period, there
Ø The study of prehistory relies heavily was little formal archaeological work, but
on archaeology, the study of human activity Spanish colonial accounts provide some
through the recovery and analysis of material information on the pre-colonial culture of the
culture. Philippines.
Ø The study of prehistory has been Ø The Spanish Period saw the arrival of
shaped by various theoretical frameworks, European explorers and the establishment of
including cultural evolutionism, historical Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.
particularism, and processual archaeology. Spanish accounts document the material
Ø Prehistoric societies were not static, culture and customs of the various ethnic
but rather constantly changing and adapting groups in the Philippines, but they were often
to new environmental, social, and economic biased and influenced by the colonizers'
conditions. perspective.
Ø Human evolution is a key component Ø The American Period marked the
of prehistory, with various hominid species beginning of systematic archaeological work
emerging and evolving over millions of years. in the Philippines, with the establishment of
Ø The domestication of plants and the Philippine Museum and the appointment
animals during the Neolithic Revolution was a of the first official government archaeologist,
crucial turning point in prehistory, leading to Henry Otley Beyer. Beyer conducted
the emergence of settled, agricultural societies extensive excavations and developed the first
and the development of civilization. typology of Philippine material culture.
Ø The development of metallurgy Ø The Modern Period has seen the
allowed to produce more advanced tools and growth of Philippine archaeology as a
weapons, leading to the rise of complex discipline, with the establishment of academic
societies and the emergence of empires. programs and institutions dedicated to the
Ø Prehistory is not simply a relic of the study of Philippine prehistory and the
past, but rather continues to shape the present development of new research methods and
and the future, as contemporary societies technologies.
grapple with issues such as environmental Ø Philippine archaeology faces
sustainability, cultural heritage preservation, challenges, such as the preservation and
and the impacts of globalization. protection of archaeological sites and artifacts
from looting and destruction, the need for
interdisciplinary approaches to the study of
nd
2 semester, a.y. 2022-2023
MODULE 1: THE IDEA OF Ø Daniel argues that the study of
PREHISTORY material artifacts can only tell us so much
about the past, and that we need to look
THE IDEA OF PREHISTORY BY GLYN beyond the physical evidence to understand
DANIEL the human experience of the past.
Ø Glyn Daniel’s paper “The Idea of THE PREHISTORY OF THE
Prehistory” reflects on the origins and PHILIPPINES BY EUSEBIO DIZON
development of the concept of prehistory.
Ø According to Daniel, prehistory Ø The prehistoric period of the
emerged as a concept in the 19th century, Philippines dates to about 50,000 years ago.
when archaeologists began to realize that Ø The oldest human fossil in the country
there was a long period of human existence was found in the Tabon Caves in Palawan.
before the emergence of written records. Ø The Tabon Caves were inhabited by
Ø The concept of prehistory assumes humans for over 22,000 years, and over 2000
that before the invention of writing, human artifacts have been discovered there.
societies were incapable of recording their own Ø The artifacts found in the Tabon
history. Caves include stone tools, pottery, and animal
Ø Daniel argues that this assumption is bones, indicating the early humans'
problematic because it assumes that the only subsistence patterns and cultural practices.
valid form of history is written history. Ø The early humans in the Philippines
Ø He suggests that there are other forms were hunter-gatherers and relied on the
of history that do not rely on written records, environment for their survival.
such as oral traditions, and that these forms of Ø They also engaged in trade and
history can be just as valuable as written exchange with neighboring communities, as
records. evidenced by the presence of jade artifacts
Ø Daniel also notes that the concept of from Taiwan and beads from China.
prehistory has been used to reinforce the idea Ø The prehistoric period of the
of progress, with prehistory being seen as a Philippines saw the emergence of social
primitive and inferior stage of human stratification and the development of burial
development. practices.
Ø He argues that this view is based on a Ø The paper also discusses the impact of
Eurocentric perspective that ignores the the environment on the early humans and the
richness and complexity of non-Western animals, including the extinction of some
cultures. species due to human activities.
Ø Daniel suggests that we need to move Ø Dizon concludes by emphasizing the
beyond the concept of prehistory and develop importance of archaeological research in
new ways of understanding the pasts that are understanding the prehistory of the
more inclusive and less Eurocentric. Philippines and its significance in the
Ø He proposes that we should focus on country's cultural heritage.
the study of human culture and society, rather
than on the study of material artifacts.
, Anthropology 118
nd
2 semester, a.y. 2022-2023
AN OUTLINED HISTORY OF
PREHISTORY: A VERY SHORT PHILIPPINE ARCHAEOLOGY AND
INTRODUCTION BY CHRIS GOSDEN ITS PERIODIZATION BY VICTOR PAZ
Ø Prehistory refers to the time before Ø The history of Philippine archaeology
written records, which varies from region to can be divided into four major periods: the
region. Prehistoric Period (before the 16th century),
Ø Prehistory covers a vast time span, the Spanish Period (16th-19th century), the
from the emergence of early humans to the American Period (early 20th century), and the
development of agriculture and complex Modern Period (post-World War II).
societies. Ø During the Prehistoric Period, there
Ø The study of prehistory relies heavily was little formal archaeological work, but
on archaeology, the study of human activity Spanish colonial accounts provide some
through the recovery and analysis of material information on the pre-colonial culture of the
culture. Philippines.
Ø The study of prehistory has been Ø The Spanish Period saw the arrival of
shaped by various theoretical frameworks, European explorers and the establishment of
including cultural evolutionism, historical Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.
particularism, and processual archaeology. Spanish accounts document the material
Ø Prehistoric societies were not static, culture and customs of the various ethnic
but rather constantly changing and adapting groups in the Philippines, but they were often
to new environmental, social, and economic biased and influenced by the colonizers'
conditions. perspective.
Ø Human evolution is a key component Ø The American Period marked the
of prehistory, with various hominid species beginning of systematic archaeological work
emerging and evolving over millions of years. in the Philippines, with the establishment of
Ø The domestication of plants and the Philippine Museum and the appointment
animals during the Neolithic Revolution was a of the first official government archaeologist,
crucial turning point in prehistory, leading to Henry Otley Beyer. Beyer conducted
the emergence of settled, agricultural societies extensive excavations and developed the first
and the development of civilization. typology of Philippine material culture.
Ø The development of metallurgy Ø The Modern Period has seen the
allowed to produce more advanced tools and growth of Philippine archaeology as a
weapons, leading to the rise of complex discipline, with the establishment of academic
societies and the emergence of empires. programs and institutions dedicated to the
Ø Prehistory is not simply a relic of the study of Philippine prehistory and the
past, but rather continues to shape the present development of new research methods and
and the future, as contemporary societies technologies.
grapple with issues such as environmental Ø Philippine archaeology faces
sustainability, cultural heritage preservation, challenges, such as the preservation and
and the impacts of globalization. protection of archaeological sites and artifacts
from looting and destruction, the need for
interdisciplinary approaches to the study of
