UP School of Archaeology

Heritage is more than old buildings— it is the stories, memories, and lives preserved beneath them.

Following the devastating 2024 fire at the centuries-old St. Ferdinand Parish Church in Ilagan, Isabela, archaeologists from the UP School of Archaeology conducted an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) before reconstruction could continue. What began as an accidental discovery of human remains became an opportunity to uncover over 300 years of history.

Through systematic excavations across the church grounds, the team documented thousands of archaeological materials, including human skeletal remains, ceramics, beads, metals, bricks, and lime mortar. These discoveries revealed layers of the church’s long history— from its original 1696 foundations to later renovations, highlighting its role as both a place of worship and a sacred burial ground.

Archaeology plays a vital role in protecting cultural heritage during modern development.

At St. Ferdinand Parish Church, careful archaeological management ensured that reconstruction could proceed while preserving valuable historical information and treating human remains with dignity and respect. This investigation is also historically significant as the first comprehensive archaeological study conducted in Isabela Province since the 1970s.

This Heritage Month, we are reminded that safeguarding heritage is not only about preserving structures—it is also about protecting the histories buried beneath them for future generations.

Bukas na with UPSA's Faculty Member and Director for Heritage Studies Dr. Janine Ochoa!

"LOOK: Researchers from the University of the Philippines School of Archaeology and partner institutions present archaeological findings from the Kota Kalawi Archaeological Excavation Project on Monday, May 18, 2026, during a program organized by the Bangsamoro Commission for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (BCPCH) at the Bangsamoro Museum in Cotabato City.
The project aims to understand the archaeology and history of Kota (fort) Kalawi through systematic excavations designed to reconstruct its original structure, establish a cultural chronology, and propose long-term conservation and tourism programs for the site.
The event forms part of the commission’s Writing of Bangsamoro History Program, which seeks to strengthen efforts to preserve and document Bangsamoro history and cultural heritage. (Settie Jehana Baunto/Faisal Camsa Jr./BIO)"

Naka-submit na ba kamo para sa tinuig nga komperensya sa UGAT?

Ang UGAT nag-abli sa pagdawat sa mga papel alang sa umalabot nga ika-48 nga tinuig nga internasyonal nga komperensya. Ang tema karong tuiga mao ang “𝙆𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙣, 𝙆𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣, 𝙆𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣: 𝘼𝙜𝙝𝙖𝙢𝙩𝙖𝙤 𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙜𝙖 𝙐𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙣 | 𝘼𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨.”

Ipahigayon ang komperensya sa November 18–21, 2026, sa Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) sa Lanao del Norte.

Ang pagdawat sa mga abstrak hangtod lamang sa Hunyo 26, 2026, busa submit na!

Para sa mga dugang detalye sa maong komperensya, palihug bisitaha ang among opisyal nga website pinaagi ani nga link: https://www.ugat-aghamtao.org/post/call-for-proposals-48th-ugat-annual-international-conference

Palihug ipakigbahin, mga ka-UGAT!

Exhibit na!

𝗣𝗔𝗛𝗜𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗢

Gin-aaghat an ngatanan nga Catubignon na umatender sa hihimuon nga public discussion ngan exhibition hiunong sa kasaysayan san Catubig pinaagi san 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝘁𝘂𝗴𝗸𝗮𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗼: 𝗔𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗴. Ini nga aktibidad gin dudumara san Local Government Unit of Catubig kaupod an University of the Philippines School of Archaeology, National Museum of the Philippines, Provincial Government of Northern Samar, ngan Saint Joseph The Worker Parish.

Paghihimuon ini nga aktibidad sa tiarabot nga 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗼 𝟭𝟴, 𝗮𝗹𝗮-𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘀𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘂𝗺. Didi ig eeksplekar an mga impormasyon ngan archaeological findings nga may kalabutan sa archaeological excavation nga gin himo sa Catubig Church. Ipapakita liwat sa publiko an mga artifacts nga nahukay ngan magkakayaon tour sa mga excavation sites.

Gin iimbitar an ngatanan nga umatender sini nga aktibidad basi mas mapahalarom pa an pagsabot san kasaysayan san aton minamahal nga bungto san Catubig.

Zooarchaeology and Biodiversity in the Philippines with UPSA's Director for Heritage Studies Dr. Janine Ochoa!!!

"Ang University of the Philippines School of Archaeology, katuwang ang National Museum of the Philippines, ay kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng archaeological field school sa Catubig Church bilang bahagi ng masusing pag-aaral sa mayamang kasaysayan at kultura ng Catubig," Northern Samar.

Northern Samar Governor Ongchuan welcomes the UPSA Archaeological Field School Team being led by Dr. Emil Robles!!!