A review of Philippine rock art and its regional context

Abstract

This paper provides a complete overview of all the known rock art sites to demonstratethe variation in motifs and techniques used in the Philippines, outline the indigenous associations, and highlight issues for conservation. In addition, new findings are introduced that include a second rock art site in Alab and previously unnoticed styles of rock art in Peñablanca. In recent years, the study of Philippine rock art has also yielded valuable contributions for archaeology both in methods and theory. Recording the rock art in challenging contexts necessitated the development of several pioneering digital methods, some low-cost, to see obfuscated rock art and expedite inventories that can be used worldwide. After reviewing the rock art in the Philippines, it is clear that the much-debated Austronesian rock art theories do not apply to these sites. A comparison of similar motifs and their contexts found in Southeast Asia and Micronesia is a starting point for developing new rock art theories in the region.