Page 172 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

142 S. C. B. Jago-on and B. C. Orillaneda

The UAS together with Far Eastern Foundation for Nautical Archaeology
(FEFNA) conducted underwater archaeological explorations off the waters at the
Naranjo Group of Islands using Remotely Controlled Vehicle (ROV) and
Multi-beam sonar. The strong currents in the area made the exploration extremely
dif!cult.
The search for the San Andres began in 2000 with PIERC with a survey area of
2
30.44 km at the waters off Naranjo Group of Islands. It was followed in 2004 and
2
2005 with total of 67 km . In 2008, and 2014 the UAS together with FEFNA
2
resumed the survey with a total survey area of 138.59 km which included the
waters between the Naranjo Group of Islands and Capul Island to the east.

7.4 Summary

The Philippines’ archipelagic nature dictates that the indigenous population develop
a complex maritime cultural heritage as a wide range of watercraft vessels were
needed for livelihood, migration, warfare, exchange and trade among others. The
presence of suitable raw materials and safe coves and bays also provides the nec-
essary pre-requisite for the development of skilled boat builders and a subsequent
boat-building tradition. The Butuan boats are early physical examples of this
boat-building tradition. During the early colonial period, !rst-hand accounts of
Philippine boatbuilding from colonial sources further strengthened the veracity of
skilled Filipino ship builders necessary for building large and seaworthy vessels
(Clark et al. 1993).
Historical sources mentioned that some of the Manila galleons were constructed
in the Philippines (Schurz 1985; Fish 2011). This has been attested in the discovery
of astilleros or shipyards in Sorsogon Province, Bicol Region where some of the
galleons may have been built, repaired and re!tted (Bolunia 2014). The
Manila-Acapulco galleon trade also resulted in a number of shipwrecks in the
Philippines caused by inclement weather, human intervention or possibly a com-
bination of both (Table 7.1). The National Museum, as the mandated agency by law
to conduct underwater archaeological activities, worked with a number of private
research entities in the search for some of these vessels. Thus far, San Jose, Nuestra
Señora de la Vida, Santo Cristo de Burgos and San Diego yielded evidences of their
locations. All were excavated but most sunk in shallow waters that resulted in
severe destruction of ship structure and cargoes. Historical sources also mentioned
that some wrecks were immediately salvaged. Despite this, signi!cant information
was gleaned that provided important information about the galleon trade cargoes.
San Diego was the exception as it was discovered in pristine condition and thus
served as a veritable time capsule of a speci!c period in the colonial history. The
shipwreck and its associated cargoes revealed evidences of structure and loading
modi!cations from a trade vessel (nao) to a warship, life on board, diet, weaponry
and the presence of different ethnicities that were on-deck (e.g. Japanese samurai