Tabuk City, Kalinga – Unearthing a butchered rhino’s fossil in the Municipality of Rizal that was confirmed to be 709,000 years old is considered one of Kalinga’s crowning glory.
The result of the carbon dating test performed on the fossils proved that the province might be the ‘home of the oldest civilization’ in the country and might even change the content of World History books in the future.
The possible suspects in killing the discovered ‘butchered rhino’ are Homo erectus, the first of the hominins where most of our modern human traits began to appear in fossil records.
Homo erectus is also said to be the most mobile among hominids, as they reached various lands in parts of the globe after coming from Ancient Africa.
Since the discovery of said fossil, this has captured the attention of some local and foreign archaeologists and paleontologists, prompting them to continue digging pieces of evidence to further prove the existence of prehistoric man in Rizal.
At present, the archaeological site where the rhino fossil was dug is now a National Cultural Treasure, which means it will now ‘be preserved and protected by the state through the National Museum of the Philippines’ because of its historical significance to the country.
On Wednesday, July 5, the provincial government announced a delegation from National Museum Northern Luzon led by its OIC Director Paolo Chan paid a courtesy call to Governor James Edduba and presented a proposal that is more than worthy to accept - the establishment of a National Museum in Kalinga.
Delighted in the good news, Edduba, without hesitation, agreed to the plan but emphasized the need for a presidential decree establishing a clear boundary between Kalinga and Cagayan to avoid problems in the future.
To resolve the issue, the governor said he will seek the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the conduct of the survey.
Edduba likewise expressed his support to the team in their conduct of excavations in the designated area of the archaeological site belonging to the province.
“The establishment of a National Museum branch in Kalinga would foster a deeper appreciation for the area's cultural tapestry while empowering local communities to share their stories and traditions,” said the provincial government of Kalinga.
“As plans progress, Kalinga's dream of preserving its ancient wonders may soon become a cherished reality,” they added.
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