The Archaeology of Peñablanca Cave Sites, Northern Luzon, Philippines

Three cave sites in the Penablanca limestone area of northeastern Luzon were excavated in 2003 in order to understand the transition from Upper Paleolithic to Neolithic cultures. The excavations in Eme, Callao and Dalan Serkot Caves showed a lower flake tool assemblage (25,000-6000 BP) and an upper ceramic assemblage with continuing flake tools (2000 BP). The excavations also showed differential usage of the caves as burial or frequentation sites during the Neolithic Period. Morphological and petrographic analysis of the earthenware sherds from the caves demonstrates an affinity with pottery from the riverbank sites in the Cagayan Valley. However, technological and usewear analysis of flake tools showed no change in form or use between periods.