Callao Cave
Callao Cave | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 17°42′11.74″N 121°49′25.5″E / 17.7032611°N 121.823750°E |
Geology | Limestone formation[1] |
Entrances | One |
Difficulty | Easy |
Hazards | Wet cave floor |
Access | Public |
Show cave opened | Callao Cave's seven chambers |
Lighting | Natural roof crevice |
Features | Church built inside the first chamber |
Callao Cave (IPA:
Fossils of archaic humans, that lived during the Late Pleistocene were first discovered in the cave and documented in 2007 by a team led by Armand Salvador Mijares from the University of the Philippines and eventually confirmed in 2019 to belong to a previously unknown and now extinct human sub-species - Callao Man or Homo luzonensis.[6][7]
Protection status
Callao Cave was visited by American
In 2003 upon the recommendation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the protected area was further enlarged to include certain parcels of land in the public domain. Proclamation 416 no. was amended by Proclamation no. 484, signed by President Arroyo on October 6, 2003. The law enlarged the park to 118,781.58 hectares (293,515.7 acres) and renamed as the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape (PPLS).[10]
The protected area is particularly described as bounded on the North and East of Public Forest under FR-1011 per Proclamation No. 584 dated July 8, 1940; on the South by Callao Reforestation Project and on the West by Block I, Alienable and Disposable of Cagayan Project No. 13-C, Certified on February 27, 1923.[11]
Features
More than 300 caves dot the protected area, 75 of which have been documented by the National Museum since 1977.[12] The Callao Cave and the nearby, but more challenging, Sierra Cave are easily accessible by automobile.[13]
The Callao Cave is the premier attraction in the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape. It is the most accessible of all the caves, its entrance is reached by climbing 184 concrete steps. The Callao Cave system is composed of seven chambers, each with natural crevices above that let streams of light to get into the cave, serving as illumination for the otherwise dark areas of the place. Previously, there were reported nine caves in the system, but an earthquake in the 1980s cut off the last two chambers.[14]
The first chamber of the show cave is the largest room with a width of about 50 m (160 ft) and a height of 36 m (118 ft).[2] The cathedral-like room has been turned into a chapel by the local people. A rock formation serves as the altar of the chapel lit by a stream of light coming from a rooftop opening. The conditions inside the caves have caused the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, more so in the deeper chambers. Several spectacular speleothems or formations are found inside the cave like flowstones, glittering dripstones, cave curtains, crystal helictites, columns, etc.[15]
Stratification
The analysis of the sediments and depositions in the cave confirm human occupation of the cave as early as 67,000 years B.P. However, the next human habitation strata, that contains cultural depositions (charcoal, hearths and chert flake tools) and dates to ca. 25,000 years B.P. only lies on top of a 2 m (6.6 ft) thick almost completely sterile layer. The most recent occupation horizon, on top of a layer of volcanic depositions dates to the Neolithic (around 3,600 years B.P.) and contained ceramic shards, stone tool fragments, faunal remains and human burials. The results demonstrate, that the Callao cave was only intermittently occupied during the last 70,000 years.[16]
Classification
Callao Cave is classified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as a Class II cave. This describes caves with areas that have hazardous conditions and contain sensitive geological, archaeological, cultural, historical, and biological values or high quality ecosystems. Such caves are open to experienced spelunkers or caving enthusiasts and guided visits, although some portions may be closed seasonally or permanently for conservation purposes.[17]
The Bat Cave near Callao Cave is a Class III cave meaning they are 'generally safe' for inexperienced visitors. They have no known threatened species within, nor any archaeological, geological, historical, or cultural values. Economic activities, such as collection of guano and edible bird's nest, are allowed in such caves.[17]
Homo luzonensis
Homo luzonensis refers to human fossils first discovered inside Callao Cave in 2007 by a team made up of Filipino, French and Australian archeologists led by Armand Salvador Mijares. Although tentatively considered by the scientific community as remains of Homo sapiens, the find, that consisted of a single 61 mm (2.4 in)
As the discovery adds a new chapter to the complex history of human evolution, Armand Mijares remarked, that it puts the Philippines...which always had been peripheral in this debate...in the spotlight of human evolution.[18]
Anthropological studies suggested, that Callao Man, like
Other caves
A rock art of a human-like figure is found in Hermoso Tuliao Cave.[19] The rock art, about 3,500 years old, shows a human-like figure with arms up and legs spread open.[20] It is believed to have been created by either early Austronesians or the Agta Negritos who migrated during the Ice Age.[19]
Other pristine and undisturbed caves with living rock formations in the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape include Jackpot, Laurente, Odessa-Tumbali, Quibal, Roc, San Carlos, and Sierra Caves, among others. These caves may be explored with guides from Sierra Madre Outdoor Club, Adventures and Expedition Philippines Inc., and North Adventurer. Daily circadian flight of bats from the Bat Cave occur at dusk.[12]
References
- ^ Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). "Historical Dictionary of the Philippines, 3rd edition", pg. 125. Scarecrow Press, Inc., Maryland.
- ^ a b "Peñablanca" Archived July 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Cagayan Province Official Website. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
- ^ "Protected Areas of Region 2 Map" Archived December 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on October 3, 2013.
- ^ "Callao Cave in Cagayan declared an 'important cultural property'". Southeast Asian Archaeology. February 5, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ISBN 978-9971-69-351-0.
- ^ a b Greshko, Michael; Wei-Haas, Maya (April 10, 2019). "New species of ancient human discovered in the Philippines". National Geographic. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Jhesset O. Enano (February 5, 2020). "Callao Cave in Cagayan declared an 'important cultural property'". INQUIRER. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ "Acts Enacted in 1932" Archived October 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. PhilippineLaw.info. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
- ^ "NIPAS List of 202 Initial Components" Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on October 3, 2013.
- ^ "Proclamation no. 484" Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on October 3, 2013.
- ^ "Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape" Archived October 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau. Retrieved on October 3, 2013.
- ^ a b "Callao Caves". Department of Tourism. Retrieved on October 1, 2013.
- ^ Bloom, Greg; Grosberg, Michael; etc. (2011). "Lonely Planet", pg. 209. Lonely Planet Publications. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
- ^ Dalton, David (October 3, 2011). "The Rough Guide to the Philippines, 3rd edition", pg. 158. Rough Guides (publisher).
- ^ "Cagayan - Caving Capital of the Philippines". Travel to the Philippines.info. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-76046-095-2.
- ^ a b "DENR classifies 158 more caves" Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved on October 4, 2013.
- ^ Zofiya Acosta (April 12, 2019). "Remains of new human species were found in Callao Cave—now the cave needs protection". NOLISOLIPH. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ a b "Archaeologists say ancient rock art sheds light on folk migration". Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "3,500-year-old rock art found in Cagayan". RAPPLER. June 29, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
External links
- Media related to Callao Cave at Wikimedia Commons
- Photo of the Callao Cave's 1st Chamber from Panoramio
- Photo of the Callao Cave's 3rd Chamber from Panoramio
- Photo of the Callao Cave's 4th Chamber from Panoramio
- Photo of the Callao Cave's 5th Chamber from Panoramio
- 2019 article on Homo luzonensis in Nature