The Amazing Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs

ANGONO-BINANGONAN PETROGLYPHS

Photo from: http://www.artesdelasfilipinas.com/archives/17/the-angono-petroglyphs

The Angono Petroglyphs are petroglyphs carved into a rock wall in Angono, Rizal, Philippines. It consists of 127 human and animal figures engraved on the rockwall probably carved during the late Neolithic, or before 2000 BC. They are the oldest known work of art in the Philippines. These inscriptions clearly show stylized human figures, frogs and lizards, along with other designs that may have depicted other interesting figures but erosion may have caused it to become indistinguishable. The engravings are mostly symbolic representations and are associated with healing and sympathetic magic. The site is sacred for indigenous Tagalog folk religion and is believed to be a home for anitos.

The site has been declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as a National Cultural Treasure in 1973. It is also included in the list of the World Inventory of Rock Art in 1985 and historic sites of the World Monuments Watch and World Monuments Funds and part of the Philippines’ tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Read More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angono_Petroglyphs

Photo from: http://www.citiestips.com/view/-510295

The National Museum of the Philippines confirmed the authenticity of this work of art and confirmed that 127 drawings are still visible in the form of animate figures. Aside from the drawings, artifacts to support the authenticity of this site has also been found like stone tools, obsidian flakes, fragments of earthenware and shells. The artifacts yielded has been studied by archeologists and suggested it was used during the Neolithic age (10, 200 BC – traditionally considered the last part of stone age).

Angono Petroglyphs were declared as the oldest known work of art in the Philippines and it is considered as one of the Natural Cultural Treasure of the Philippines. The petroglyphs are also included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under UNESCO and considered as “100 most endangered site in the world”. At present, the authorities are conducting efforts in preserving this Neolithic – old national treasure. Read More: https://biyaherosombrero.blogspot.com/

Photo from: https://www.deztreks.com/angono-petroglyphs/

The Angono petroglyphs are located in the province of Rizal, approximately 25 kilometers from Manila. The site is actually a museum located on the border of the municipalities of Angono and Binangonan. The Angono petroglyphs are considered to be the oldest known work of rock art in the Philippines. There are 127 different human and animal figures engraved on to the rock wall. The rock wall itself is in a shallow, sheltered area, at the rear end of a cave.

The ancient site was discovered by national artist Carlos V. Francisco. Archaeological excavations carried out soon after in 1965 uncovered a number of artefacts. This included some tools, fossils, remains of a giant turtle and ceramics that indicate the site was occupied and utilized during the Neolithic age. This suggests that these carvings may have been created earlier than 2000BC, putting the age of the petroglyphs at more than 4,000 years old. This makes them the oldest form of rock art that has been discovered in the Philippines. Read More: https://www.deztreks.com/angono-petroglyphs/