Butuan Archeological Sites are three archeological areas showing testimonies of the boat-making, seafaring, and international trading Rajahnate of Butuan that dates back from 10th - 15th centuries. The key area is the site where 11 balanghai (large open-water-going boats) are found, of which 3 are excavated while the rest are preserved or unexcavated. The second is a burial site with wooden coffins containing modified skulls, while the third site contains ceramics from China, Cambodia and Thailand and glassware originating form Persia.
Full screen map of Butuan Archeological Sites (On tentative list - Philippines)
Butuan in nothern Mindanao is synonymous to the balangays, or the archaeological remains of large open-air wooden boats. The balangay is a testimony to the rich maritime history of the Philippines. These boats are declared National Cultural Treasures, and are considered prehistoric link of the Philippines with the rest of insular Southeast Asia (and beyond).
The excavation sites in Butuan are now under the management of the National Museum, and as mentioned by the museum caretaker, have more artifacts to reveal. In fact, there is more to discover in the city of Butuan, not just in the areas along the river delta (where the balangays were excavated), but also in its nearby hills/mountains.
