Archaeological Investigation of Sagel Cave at Maitum, Sarangani Province, Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

This paper summarises the results of the archaeological investigation of Sagel Cave, located within Barangay Pinol, Maitum, Sarangani Province. Sagel Cave, which was revealed by quarrying activities, reportedly contained artefacts similar to the Ayub Cave anthropomorphic pottery. The archaeological excavations revealed a Metal Age (ca. 500 BC – 500 AD) non-anthropomorphic jar burial of an adult, possibly male, associated with an iron knife and a bead made from fossilised shell. This Sagel Cave jar burial enhances the already rich prehistoric jar burial tradition of Southern Mindanao and raises further questions on the development of the jar burial traditions of Island Southeast Asia and the likely existence of complex Metal Age communities in Southern Mindanao.