Above: The burial mask made of gold.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Jose Eleazar Bersales

Aside from the earthenwares which were unearthed two days ago at Plaza Independencia, a pre-hispanic death mask made of gold was also found.

According to Mr. Jose Eleazar Bersales, the deputized officer of the National Museum tasked to monitor the ongoing excavations at Plaza Independencia, this is the second time in the history of Philippine archaeology that a gold burial mask was found in a controlled or scientific excavation. The first was in Oton, Iloilo which was recovered in 1973. Continue Reading »

Above: A Thai bluish-green “guan” celadon, a very, very good copy of guans produced in China. The bluish-green and the etched designs give it away as Thai.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Jose Eleazar Bersales.

Several artifacts were unearthed during the monitoring of the excavations of the ongoing road tunnel project at Plaza Independencia yesterday. A team from the National Museum arrived to observe the excavations and retrieve whatever artifacts that could be located. Continue Reading »

By Jose Eleazar Bersales
Sociology-Anthropology Department
University of San Carlos

I was pleasantly surprised by the swift and positive outcome of my column (and my calls to the National Museum) last week regarding the looting of artifacts at Plaza Independencia. The National Museum (NM) immediately sent a team, led by its assistant director, Noel Cuevas, to meet with Vice Mayor Mike Rama, as well as the management of the subway project at the plaza, to check the reports. Continue Reading »

By Jose Eleazar Bersales
Sociology-Anthropology Department
University of San Carlos

It was called plaza de armas in the early 1600s, alluding to generic term for a public square used as military training and parade grounds. Later it was widened, bordering the properties across the Cathedral of Cebu, and was aptly called plaza mayor. Toward the twilight of Spanish colonial rule, it was landscaped, with borders finally defined and was christened Plaza Maria Cristina, in honor of the queen regent. When the Americans came, it was called Plaza Libertad, as the Americans were asserting that they had liberated Cebuanos from the yoke of Spanish oppression. Still, when the colonial masters had all left, it became what it has come to be called now: Plaza Independencia. Continue Reading »

Above: A gold earring, one of the artifacts found in the recent archaeological diggings in Boljoon, Cebu. This is the first time in the history of Philippine archaeology that a gold earring was found in a burial. Continue Reading »