A TEAM of archaeologists have started conducting salvage or rescue archaeology in a government recreation site in Daanbantayan town, northern Cebu to determine if more artifacts would be found there.

Dr. Jose Eleazar “Jobers” Bersales and his team began their work on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, after securing a clearance from Daanbantayan Mayor Sun Shimura to do additional research and digging to determine if more artifacts were still hidden outside the Lamberto R. Te Cultural Center in Barangay Poblacion.

Bersales told SunStar Cebu on Wednesday, March 1, that they are expected to finish their work within five days after Feb. 28.

“We will sieve or screen all the soil that has been removed already in order to collect, bag and catalog all the artifacts and biological materials (shells, human bones, animal bones, etc.). At the same time we will excavate the remaining portion where the drainage is being planned in order to see if there are still human remains and cultural materials in the soil matrix,” Bersales added.

The human remains and antique were discovered on Feb. 14 by construction workers digging up ground for drainage.

The human bones and artifacts could have been buried there 700 years ago based on its appearance.

Shimura said that the excavated antique items will be displayed in their museum, which they plan to construct.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines has given authorization for the salvage archaeology. (PAC / TPT)