Ornament or Handle? Dugong Bone Technology at the Sibaltan Burial Site, Palawan, Philippines

Juan Rofes1,2*, Janine Ochoa1, Annette Oertle3,4, Joan Quincy Lingao1, Patricia S. Cabrera1, Emil C. Robles1, Helen Lewis5,1, and Victor Paz1,†

This study presents a remarkable bone artifact recovered from Sibaltan, a village on the northeast coast of Palawan, Philippines. In 2010, two open-air archaeological sites – the Sibaltan Elementary School and the Acosta Property – were excavated. The excavations uncovered dispersed human burials likely dating to the “Metal Period,” more recently defined as “Complex Burial Traditions.” This chrono-cultural attribution is supported by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Thermoluminescence (TL) dating (age estimates ranged from the 6-10th centuries CE), as well as the presence of imported beads and metal grave goods. The worked bone element was retrieved in association with an incomplete adult human skeleton at the Acosta Property. The object is approximately 120 mm long with a rectangular cross-section and a pointed end. While the acute tip is broken, the opposite “open” end appears to have been intentionally cut straight. Two small, nearly parallel holes were carved into this base, which contained a small fragment of iron. ZooMS analysis identified the material as Dugong dugon. Expert consultation yielded contrasting interpretations regarding its skeletal origin: some researchers argue it was fashioned from a pachyostotic rib, while others suggest a modified tusk. Regarding its function, while initially hypothesized as a piece of personal adornment (such as a necklace component), the presence of iron suggests it may have served as a handle for a metal tool or an object made of perishable materials (e.g., wood, bamboo, or fabric).