Revisiting the Archaeology of Banton Island, Central Philippines: Obtaining Insights from Its Earthenware Sherds through Chaîne Opératoire Approach

Gregg Alfonso Abbang

Banton Island, located in the Romblon Province of central Philippines, was one of the earliest sites

investigated by the National Museum of the Philippines in the 1960s. Exploration of caves on the island yielded mortuary materials, including wooden coffins adorned with reptilian motifs, burial cloth, ceramics, and modified human remains. These findings indicate that the island was part of late 13th– to 15th–century exchange and ritual networks in Island Southeast Asia. However, unlike major projects such as the Tabon Cave Complex, sustained and systematic research on Banton remained limited for many years. In the 2000s, excavations at an open site on the island revealed substantial assemblages primarily consisting of shell remains and earthenware sherds. While the island’s notable burial findings have generally overshadowed these ceramics, they have not been thoroughly examined. This paper presents a technological analysis of earthenware by employing the chaîne opératoire approach, which helps reconstruct production sequences and categorize sherds into technical groups. By shifting focus from prestigious mortuary objects to everyday ceramic production, this study repositions local technological practices within the context of pre-colonial Island Southeast Asia. The findings provide baseline data for Romblon and contribute to broader discussions on craft organization, technological transmission, and community identity in island societies.