METAL-AGE BURIAL JARS LONG KEPT IN US, NOW BACK IN PH

(SPOT.ph) This week, just in time for Heritage Month, the National Museum of the Philippines presented a most unique donation: a large number of Kulaman Limestone Burial Jars originating from Sultan Kudarat and hailing from a single private collection, all of which up to this point have not been seen by the public.   

Last May 7, 2024, the "Gifted, Repatriated" exhibit of Kulaman Limestone Burial Jars was opened, revealing a 52-piece collection of limestone burial jars dating from the Metal Age. This large assemblage of important Philippine archaeological pieces is part of a collection of just one person, the late Sally von dem Hagen. All the pieces were in the US until its repatriation to the Philippines earlier this year.  

The burial jars' discovery

The discovery and eventual repatriation of these secondary burial jars (secondary, meaning, the bones were placed into these vessels after a period of time, and not direct burial upon death) is long-winded yet interesting.  

Back in the early 1970s, Dulangan Manobo men stumbled upon a cave filled with these ancient burial vessels on the Kulaman Plateau in the province now known as Sultan Kudarat. The Manobo then reported this discovery to Mrs. von dem Hagen, who was living in the Philippines at that time as a businesswoman, and asked if she would be interested in collecting them. Mrs. von dem Hagen recognized the cultural importance of these pieces and acquired as many pieces as she could. In turn, she established friendships within the Manobo community. When she returned to the US in 1979, she brought the entire collection of burial jars with her.  

In a recent video interview with Mrs. von dem Hagen’s son Peter von dem Hagen, Peter recalled that as a boy, he would see the Manobo bring in the jars, each one wrapped in leaves and tied up with jungle vines. Bringing the jars from the plateau was most probably a massive feat, as he described that each jar was so heavy, he could only drag one a very short distance.  

Peter then mentioned that his mother cared so much for the limestone jars that she kept them at home. When Mrs. von dem Hagen passed away in 2013, Peter opened the collection that was in storage and agreed, along with his other siblings, that the sacred objects should be repatriated back to the Philippines. Before its repatriation, the entire collection was exhibited at the Filipino-American Service Group (FASGI) in Los Angeles and was put under the custodianship of Dr. Stephen Acabado and the Cotsden Institute of Archaeology at UCLA.  

The homecoming

At the museum opening, National Museum’s Deputy-Director General Jorell Legaspi related the long process of repatriation. "This homecoming was not only logistical, but also an opportunity for dialogue and reflection," Legaspi said. "Prior to its return, the collection was on view at FASGI’s bayanihan center, igniting conversations on ethics of cultural collection, issues of repatriation and empowerment, and the enduring relevance of culture and history." 

The collection includes several burial jars that are round or quadrangular with carved geometric designs, along with vessel covers that show what seem to be anthropomorphic human forms with unique faces, some even with breasts and genitalia. Carbon dating of the human remains in the jars date back to around 1,450 years ago. Dr. Mary Jane Louise Bolunia of the Archaeology Division says that these are all sacred objects that show the aspect of the beliefs of the afterlife, and the practice of taking care of relatives who had passed away.   

National Museum Director-General Jeremy Barns said at the media reception that the repatriation of these burial jars was the first step in learning about them. Upon asking if there was evidence of more of these jars and other pieces in its original cave in Sultan Kudarat, Barns said that further research to the said area would be a possibility. Eventually, the collection will be exhibited at the National Museum in Davao upon its completion.  

As with most artifacts and antiquities, such objects are viewed by some as "exotic" and are unfortunately dealt in the selling market as a collectible. A quick search on Google of "Limestone Burial Jars" will reveal various foreign antique and auction sites, even on X (formerly Twitter), selling these Philippine burial jars at high prices.  

In relation to this, Director-General Barns stresses: "We also want to make sure that various collections at home and abroad of these jars, that people should realize how special they are, and we want to use this occasion to send a strong message to collections and museums around the world that we are very concerned for these and other items of heritage."  

The "Gifted, Repatriated" exhibit of Kulaman Burial Jars is now open to the public at the National Museum of Anthropology, P. Burgos Drive, Ermita, Manila.    

2024-05-08T12:06:32Z dg43tfdfdgfd