Sea, Forests, and Sun: Exploring Entangled Stories between Humans and the Environment in Southern Palawan

Hermine Xhauflair1*, Timothy Vitales2, Francis Claravall3, Jerone Cansino4, Kristine Kate A. Lim3, Dawn Satumbaga3,5, Emil Robles3, David Codeluppi6, Louis Champion7, Rhayan Melendres8, Pauline Basilia8, Justin Bernardo3, Maricar Belarmino2, Claire Delhon9, Patrick Castro3, Gabrielle Anne B. Gascon3, Janine Ochoa3, Astrud Ulili5, Samantha Martija5, Gary Catingup2, Aurora Patiño10, Juan Rofes3, and Xavier Gallet11

Southern Palawan occupies a strategic position between Borneo and the Philippine archipelago and likely played a key role in human movements across Island Southeast Asia. Mission Palawan investigates long-term interactions between human societies and coastal–forest environments through archaeological excavations, paleoenvironmental analyses, and contemporary practices studies. Excavations at Guri Cave, located within the Tabon Caves complex, document human occupation during the Holocene. The assemblage reveals a subsistence system combining forest and marine resources, including deer, arboreal mammals, nuts, fish, and a wide range of shellfish collected from mangroves, estuaries, and coastal waters. Shell remains are particularly abundant and were not only consumed but also transformed into tools and ornaments. These findings highlight the importance of coastal foraging strategies in sustaining human populations on tropical islands. Recent surveys in the far south of Palawan led to the discovery and first excavation (2025) of Tajawan 1, a cave site overlooking a freshwater river near the coast. Preliminary results indicate a sequence of occupation covering around 4000 years. Located at the southern tip of the island, Tajawan 1 provides new evidence for settlement and mobility in a region that may have served as a gateway between Borneo and the Philippine archipelago. Together, the archaeological data from Guri and Tajawan contribute to broader discussions on maritime adaptation in Island Southeast Asia. They document how human groups combined coastal and forest resources, mastering both types of ecosystems, and participated in regional networks reflected in the circulation of materials such as nephrite ornaments and pottery.