Marine Resource Exploitation in a Late Prehistoric Coastal Cebuano Community: A Zooarchaeological Analysis from Daanbantayan, Northern Cebu, Philippines

Alyssandra Marie S. Lopez1*, Juan C. Rofes1,2, John A. Peterson3, J. Eleazar R. Bersales4, Patrick Roberts5, and Archie Tiauzon1,6

Although marine resource exploitation has long been important for coastal communities in the Indo-Pacific, zooarchaeological studies thus far have more often focused on terrestrial fauna. An archaeological recovery operation conducted in Daanbantayan, northern Cebu, Philippines yielded numerous artifacts that indicated its multi-component use for habitation and burial prior to Spanish occupation in the 16th century. The faunal remains recovered from this excavation indicated a heavy reliance on marine resource exploitation as a significant proportion of the assemblage was composed of a wide variety of primarily nearshore marine fishes and some chelonid sea turtle remains that exhibited signs of butchery and burning, suggesting generalist and opportunistic aquatic fishing and hunting practices. These patterns remained consistent in the early Spanish layer, demonstrating continuity and endurance of local practices even after the site’s conversion to a colonial plaza. Also noteworthy is the recovery of a butchered sea turtle carapace fragment from underneath the skull of one of the excavated pre-Hispanic human burials, raising questions regarding potential symbolic or ritual indigenous practices. These findings provide unique insights into foodways and animal exploitation strategies of native Cebuanos prior to Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines.