Ille Cave: IV1998-P

ALMARIO, Khristin Allison S.

Arkiyoloji 1 WFW

Paper #1: Archaeology in Ille Cave, Palawan

08 April 2015

Ille Cave: IV-1998-P

The Dewil Valley in Northern Palawan is where you find Ille, Istar and Makangit.
Of the three caves that were mentioned, Ille (Fig. 1) is the most important site in El
Nido. It is because of the archaeological finds in it which includes: human remains that
is dated to be about 12, 000 years old, three cremation traces that is about 7,000-9,000
years ago and is considered to be the oldest in Southeast Asia (Paz, 2005), bone tools,
the second bifacial hand axe found in the Philippines next to the Arubo hand axe. (Paz,
et al., 2008) And lastly, the very first tiger bone (Fig. 2) in the Philippines that proved the
existence of land bridges that connected Palawan and Borneo together. (Piper, Ochoa,
Lewis, Paz, & Ronquillo, 2008) The site is also a muti-period burial and the only site that
has continuous occupation since the Terminal Pleistoce to Mid-Holocene period.
The Ille Karst tower is approximately 75 meters high from the base with a cave
network and at least 3 cave mouths located at its base. (Paz, et al., 2008) The first
excavation, a test pit, happened in 1998 under the supervision of Prof. Wilhelm
Solheim. (Balibago 2007) The first opening is a 1.87mx1m test pit in front of the West
mouth of the cave. Due to hindrances such us time, manpower, boulders and many
others, the first full scale excavation only begun in 1999. During the 1999 excavation,
they opened 4 (1mx1m) trenches. (N3W12, N4W12, N2W12 N3W13). Several human
burials were found and a shell midden was also discovered. The excavation is ongoing
now for 10 years and counting and is headed by Dr. Victor Paz. The excavation is an
international collaboration with researchers from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia
and the United States of America. (Balibago, 2007)
A lot of artefacts (Fig. 3) were collected and this includes: ceramics, shells,
burials and beads. For the ceramics, approximately 12, 600 earthen ware pottery
shards were recovered, with a large variety of designs and paint. Most of the pottery

that was discovered is associated with the Philippines Metal Period. (Archaeological
Studies Program, University of the Philippines) The designs are said to be made locally
which the early people adapted from trade. (Balbigo, 2010)
So, how important is Ille Cave? According to Helen Lewis, investigations of
human colonization and adaptation to the changing environment of the late Pleistocene
and mid-Holocene in Southeast Asia have confirmed the complex adjustments amongst
Late Paleolithic individuals as well as variations in the environment. (Lewis, 2007) The
shell beads evidences on Ille Cave also supports that the post-Neolithic is a dynamic
period for shell-working. (Basilia, 2006) The archaeological sequence reported here,
which also extends into the later Holocene (Szabo et al. 2004), is a rare and
important resource for study of the ancient Philippines and Southeast Asia. Excavations
in Ille Cave would further the knowledge we have about our national identity and may
answer questions about our past.
As Im researching and reading about Ille Cave, I was fascinated at how rich the
site is. The things Ive read, the pictures Ive seen it amazes me. The site together with
its history is something that one should be proud of. Its just a shame that our
government do not give that much importance to it. If only theyll give much more
significance to it then that would be better. I also realized that upon knowing these
things, I am much more proud about being a Filipino. It is what makes me,us, Filipino.
The history and secrets are the things that makes us unique and these are also the
things that we should be proud of.

Figure 1: Ille Cave

Figure 3: Stone Adze, a red-slipped pot sherd

with incisions, two different types of shell
beads

Bibliography

Figure 2: Tiger bone at Ille Cave

Figure 4: West-facing section through the

east mouth main trench

Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines. (n.d.). Dewil Valley,

New Ibajay Archaeological Investigations. Retrieved April 4, 2015, from
Archaeological Studies Program: http://asp.upd.edu.ph/palawanproject/index.html
Balbaligo, Y. (2007). A Brief Note on the 2007 Excavation at Ille Cave, Palawan, the
Philippines. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology, 18, 161-166.
Balbigo, Y. (2010). Preliminary Report of the Earthenware Pottery from Ille Cave and
Rockshelter, Palawan, Philippines. Hukay, 15, 1-20.
Basilia, P. (n.d.). Post-Neolithic Shell Beads From Ille Cave, El Nido, Palawan: A Case
of Specialization?? Retrieved April 9, 2015, from Academia.edu:
http://www.academia.edu/1691702/PostNeolithic_Shell_Beads_From_Ille_Cave_El_Nido_Palawan_A_Case_of_Specialization_
Cayron, J. G. (2011). Archaeology and Exchange in Palawan Island. PhD Thesis,
National University of Singapore, Southeast Asian Studies. Lara, M., Paz, V., &
Solheim, W. (2013). Bone Modifications in an Early Holocene Cremation Buriam from
Palawan, Philippines. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, Abstract.
doi:10.1002/oa.2326
Lewis, H. (2007, May 10). Dating and interpreting terminal Pleistocene to mid
Holocene cave occupation and an early cremation burial from Palawan, Philippines.
Retrieved April 9, 2015, from Academia.edu:
http://www.academia.edu/159978/Dating_and_interpreting_terminal_Pleistocene_to_
mid_Holocene_cave_occupation_and_an_early_cremation_burial_from_Palawan_Phili
ppines
Paz, V. 2005. Rock Shelters, Caves, and Archaeology in Island Southeast Asia. Asian
Perspectives 44(1), 107-118.
Paz, V., Ronquillo, W., Lewis, H., Piper, P., Carlos, J., Robles, E., . . . Xhauflair, H.
(2008). Palawan Island Paleohistoric Research Project: Report on the 2008 Valley
field season. Research Project, Archaeological Studies Program of the Philippines;
National Museum of the Philippines, Archaeological Studeis Program of the
Philippines. Retrieved November 8, 2014, from www.researchgate.net
Piper, P., Ochoa, J., Lewis, H., Paz, V., & Ronquillo, W. (2008). The first evidence for
the past presence of the tiger Panthera tigris (L.) on the island of Palawan,
Philippines: Extinction in an island population. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, 264(1-2), 123-127.
Szabo, K. 2004. Technique and practice: shell-working in the Western Pacific and
Island Southeast Asia. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Australian National University.