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In 1975 my family lived and worked in the Philippines. I was a GS-9 working at Clark Air Base, American High School. This was after 3 years in Japan (Misawa and Camp Zama Tokyo). I knew from my reading that there were lots of Chinese Yuan wares and I was anxious to find some. After some months My wife and I went on this trip - by bus, jeepny, and some boat.
Philippines: the first 4 pictures. We were going down the main Island of Luzon south of Manila. The first samples of Chinese finds were in the 1920s. Then during street work in Manila were found 1500 pieces of pottery. Some were as old as Northern Song, mostly Yuan and Ming. Farmers working along the rivers what fed into the sea started to find shards while walking the fields. First slide near a Copra Plantation -where we went on the edge of farm land. This area contained grave sites with mostly 14-15th century graves. The men gathered in the morning to begin to dig. some were men and young boys. One picture is with the "manager" using a long ROD to press into the ground looking for something solid. This is very tricky. It was easy to break pots. If the found something they started to dig.
Everyone but the manager were without even sandals. there is a man with a bolo knife like a machete - only used in the Philippines (lots of brush and palm leaves to cut - for shade). Another group with ME and men and boys - one man on left is deep in a hole. The 3rd pix shows the farm land in the background - as they were on the edge of the Copra operation. Finally an arm points out a hole to my wife - you can see many holes behind her, close together. It was dangerous to even walk around out there because the holes were much taller than a man. (SORRY but I can't seem to arrange the photos in order of the text)
There was digging all around the area - with others coming and going.1st is 3 boys digging together. Next a very young boy deep in a hole - and it will get over his head. Third show a a man with some bone fragments on a leaf. There were seldom any remains after 600 years. finally a man in a deep hole. Notice that he is working on the SIDE of the dig. They dig the hole on the side of the finding-rod, so that they won't break pottery as they dig right under them. There were often several holes in the side of every hole.
These next pictures are different men showing something they had just dug up. Notice how dirty they are. Later they would take them into the bamboo house to clean them up. #1 shows the man in a VERY deep hole while digging into the side wall. #2 a group of men with several finds. #3 a man in very deep hole again and showing a small brown-ware jar. #4 a man so deep he can't reach the rim, holding some shards. Much of the Yuan soft white (Marco Polo) ware is pre-porcelain and very easy to break- therefore lots of shards.
The first picture shows the "boss" showing my wife what looks like an Ochre ware bowl and a man standing on the left with a larger Ovoid jar. #2 She studies a small Ochre ware jar. #3 some items from the day for my inspection (I took 3 of these) and finally some similar ones I collected up to that trip in my home in CAB - sorry the pictures are so poor.
For those who are interested in this kind of wares (many different types, and kilns and time periods) you might try to find a copy of the Book: Oriental Ceramics Discovered in the Philippines. It's very hard to find. The first edition (1967) was withdrawn because of many mistakes by the authors - Leandro and Cecilia Locsin. The second edition came in 1970 with much better expert help and excellent pictures including some color. (Charles E. Tuttle - Tokyo Japan). I looked for YEARS to find one. Dealers are still looking for the second edition. I did find one about 15 years just by chance. Finally the digitized book of the first edition is on Google Play. #
1 the book cover - and a few bottles of MANY in my Philippine collection.
It's interesting that in the 50 years since I left the Philippines I rarely come across the "Marco Polo" ware which I like. The boxes yes - but other hardly seen. The ware is proto porcelain with creamy color and many colors of glaze. Uncolored rim and foot. All from Yuan period. Example covered box lit about 10cm - with scrolling vines and mismatched bottom, Last with similar small vase (poor old picture). BTW, there is a larger example of the covered box above in the V&A London.
Thanks for looking. Please, comment or question.
Thank you for sharing some of the history of your adventure with us!
I second that! Thank you so much. It looks absolutely fascinating and such nice pieces. Did the holes ever collapse on the diggers?
Yes, unfortunately the holes killed quite a few men and boys especially in the typhoon and rainy seasons. In some pictures you can clearly see how deep they went for any item. American, and Japanese money was great for the economy, and especially the very poor farmers who were almost slaves on those plantations. And illegal digs were common. The advantage for the jungle trip was to skip the middle man. AND- I wanted to be sure that the stories of the digs were true and that they were coming right out of the ground - so I know they are authentic!!
I believe the digs still go on.
David
I forgot to mention the problem of the cave-in of the holes which killed quite a few men and boys especially in the typhoon and rainy seasons. In some pictures you can clearly see how deep they went for any item. American, and Japanese money was great for the economy, and especially the very poor farmers who were almost slaves on those plantations. And illegal digs were common. The advantage for the jungle trip was to skip the middle man. AND- I wanted to be sure that the stories of the digs were true and that they were coming right out of the ground - so I know they are authentic!!
I believe the digs still go on.
David
It's interesting you brought that up. -The only reason we HAVE the pottery is because they WERE buried. The pottery were buried near by of ON the body buried. AND the best pottery found points to the higher rank of the person. Also, some tribes needed pottery that held water. In the early 1200-1400s they had no way to keep water or wine etc. for a longer time than with their own wood or primitive pots. The very best was The very large Dragon jars which were the highest status in the tribes and were revered for centuries. Most were brown or orchre glazed.
David
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