Page 38 - ARQUEOLOGIA IBEROAMERICANA

38 ARQUEOLOGIA IBEROAMERICANA 4 (2009) ISSN 1989–4104

Fig. 20. Map of southeastern Batangas showing areas surveyed in 2008. Legend: Green – high priority for excavations, Brown – recommen-
ded for further explorations, Yellow – low priority for explorations and excavations, Red – looted, Blue – reported positive by the locals but
the team did not find anything. 1. Padre Garcia; 2. Lumang Simbahan ng (Old Church of) San Juan and extension; 3. Klaus Baertges Site,
Puntor, Calubcub I; 4. Sitio Centro Site, Abung; 5. Sitio Puntor Site, Calubcub I; 6. Calubcub Segundo Site; 7. Sitio Ilaya, Bataan; 8. Sitio
Balakbakan Site, Laiya Aplaya; 9. Calumpang; 10. Masaguitsit, Lobo (School); 11. Sabas Anyayahan Site, Banalo, Lobo; 12. Oscar Araja
Site; 13. Sitio Balugbug; 14. Virgin Resort Cave Site, Laiya Aplaya; 15. Coco Grove Resort Site, Sitio Talisay, Laiya Aplaya; 16. Biga; 17.
Hilerang Kawayan, Pinagbayanan, Taysan; 18. Mercy Reynolds Site; 19. Soloc 20. Mabilog na Bundok; 21. Barangay Catmon Site; 22. Arsenio
Lopez Jr Site, Abung Silangan; 23. Kweba ng Hapon, Ibaba Malaman, Pinagbayanan, Taysan; 24. Sitio Puntor, Subukin; 25. Puting Buhan-
gin; 26. Ticalan 27. Lipahan; 28. Maraykit; 29. Muzon; 30. Sitio Campo, Janao-Janao (F. Campos).

face. We interviewed a man who was involved in the di- they employed both Geslani and Claveria. Claveria said
ggings. Daniel Ramirez (73 years old) and Rosenda A. that one skeleton was buried with a pot. We still obser-
Ramirez (66 years old) said that the name of the man ved small fragments of pots. The descriptions of the bu-
from Calatagan was Macario Putol, and that he came rials offered by the locals suggest similarities with the
around 1975. The objects were discovered because of graves found in Calatagan (Barretto-Tesoro 2008a).
ploughing activities. They used a tool, which resembles
an ice-pick. He said that they found saucers, celadon, and Mercy Reynolds Site, Balugbug,
human bones about 20-30 centimetres deep. Bowls were Sawang, Lobo (IV-2008-VI)
found on the pelvises and saucers on chests. The couple
believed that these were sex markers as Macario indica- Dante Arguilles remembers another local Rogelio “Ro-
ted. They could not collect the cups anymore because ger” Romo who found human bones and a pot containing
they were stuck to the bedrock. Furthermore, the skele- shells in his yard. According to Arguilles’ recollection,
tons were found with pots near the head and hip regions. the skeletons were orientated towards the sea. The bones
The skeletons were burned. They said that pots can also were reburied and a cross was erected to mark the grave.
be found near the coast. We paid Roger Romo a visit. The Romos lived near the
The couple’s grandson, Mark Lester Geslani (17 years coast and beside their property is a large house owned by
old) and his friend Ronel Claveria (20 years old) accom- Mercy Reynolds (52 years old). Rodel Romo (30 years
panied us to Sitio Balugbug. The site is near the coast old) said that he often sees broken pots in their property.
and on an elevated but relatively flat area. It has the fo- They even found human bones, which they reburied. The
llowing coordinates: 121° 14’ 3.7” longitude and 13° 37’ skulls were orientated towards the east. This site is loca-
44.4” latitude. This area is 37.9 meters above sea level. ted along the sea and has the following coordinates: 121°
We learned that the area was re-excavated in 2003. Ac- 13’ 58.9” longitude and 13° 37’ 42.1” latitude. It is 12.3
cording to the boys, the men used metal detectors and metres above sea level.