S15-2

Looking for the Mother Lode: The 2020 Archaeological Excavation at Callao Cave

Armand Salvador Mjares1, Kate Lim2, Emil Robles1

1Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines, Philippines

2Department of Earth Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany

When Homo luzonensis was introduced in 2019, the demand for more diagnostic fossil remains continues. Issues such as lineage, biomechanics and stature requires more diagnostic parts such as cranial and post cranial long bones. Understanding its cultural adaptation also requires to be addressed. In trying to locate the probable depositional area of the fossils, we tested the initial hypothesis that there was a paleo channel that is flowing from the south to northeast section of the antechamber hugging the eastern wall. This hypothesis is based on the reconstruction of the breccia layer from the previous excavation units (2007, 2009, 2011, and 2015). The 2020 excavation required the demolition of a cemented walk way near the current entrance. This excavation unit will connect Square 3 and 4 (south section) with Squares 1and 2 (east section). This is also the hypothetical bend of the paleo channel. This paper will present the result of the 2020 excavation and our insight in reconstructing cave depositional process.