Understanding our archeological past through BCML

Bulacan has long been recognized as the province of heroes. Its historians, universities and local officials have worked together to ensure that the province remains a leader in historical research, publication and heritage preservation.

Through the Bulacan Cultural Material Laboratory (BCML) at the Bulacan State University (BulSU), the province has also emerged as a leader in archaeological research and the recovery of material culture, underscoring its significance in the study of Philippine prehistory.

Significant findings in Bulacan date back more than a century, beginning with Otley Beyer’s Rizal-Bulacan Archaeological Survey. Robert Fox later initiated projects in Angat and Norzagaray to identify Philippine cultural practices related to iron ore smelting. However, academic institutions and local governments have neither supported nor sustained these initiatives.

This prompted the establishment of the BCML in 2021 at the BulSU Center for Bulacan Studies under the SHINE Bulacan Project. During my term, the SHINE Bulacan Project was among the first Education Tourism (EduTourism) projects funded by CHED.

The logic behind the CHED EduTourism initiative was simple: higher education institutions, drawing on their instructional, research and public service expertise, must partner with local governments to promote local history, culture and heritage conservation and to position their campuses and the province as destinations for local tourism.

Under the leadership of the late CHED International Affairs Service Director Lily Milla, the commission funded EduTourism projects at several institutions, including Kalinga State University (heritage museum), CLSU (eFarm Academy), ISUFST (fish museum), Tarlac Agricultural University (smart agriculture), Capiz State University (riverine improvement for eco-tourism), President Ramon Magsaysay State University (coastal tourism) and the University of Antique and Iloilo Science and Technology University.

The CHED funding for BCML covered the establishment of the facility, drones for remote sensing and aerial mapping and computers for processing Ground Penetrating Radar data.

At the project’s launch, I witnessed the strong support of Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando and then-BSU president Cecile Gascon. I am pleased that the current president, Teody San Andres, continues to give BCML his full support.

The BCML serves as a facility for cleaning, cataloging, photographing, illustrating, analyzing and storing specimens from ongoing field projects or surveys, as well as surface finds. Specimens recovered from any archaeological or historical site, including stone, pottery, bone, shell and textiles, are subject to laboratory analysis, processing and examination.

BCML also offers consultation sessions for students, educators, professionals and researchers interested in exploring topics related to archaeology, history, cultural studies and paleoenvironmental research in Bulacan.

Under the expert guidance of archaeologist Edilberto Larin Jr., the BCML has established standardized procedures for the receipt, handling, documentation, conservation, analysis and storage of archaeological materials processed in the laboratory.

With support from the National Museum and Dr. Armand Mijares of the UP Archaeological Studies Program, archaeological excavations in Bulacan began in 2016. These efforts proved fruitful, as the radiocarbon dating of a monkey bone from Tanggapan Cave provided the first scientific date for Bulacan, 7800 BP. This archaeological date established Bulacan’s maximum scientific age range within the Philippines’ archaeological time period.

Equally important is the guidance of Dr. Jimmy Veneracion, the most prolific historical writer in Bulacan, who has been assisting the Bulacan Studies Center for decades.

Beyond Bulacan, BCML has participated in projects in nearby provinces, such as Quezon and Nueva Ecija, involving cave mapping, assessment and classification.

Although not an original component of the CHED EduTourism project, the BCML initiative’s success led to the establishment of the Biak-na-Bato Museum, which BCML officials now curate.

The province of Bulacan has a diverse and dynamic landscape consisting of upland, inland and coastal areas. Its long, winding river systems also make it highly active in soil deposition and water movement. These geographical characteristics underscore the need for continuous monitoring of potential archaeological sites in the province, which remain vulnerable to changes caused by natural and human-made processes. In addition, anthropogenic factors, such as land conversion and industrialization, pose further risks to archaeological and cultural heritage.

Given these conditions, the BCML plays an important role as a dedicated facility that supports the study, documentation, conservation and preservation of heritage materials spanning the distant past to more recent periods. These materials provide important evidence for understanding the province’s past and help define what it means to be Bulakenyo and Filipino.

Interested students, faculty, researchers and archaeological advocates can contact Edilberto Larin Jr. ([email protected]) to visit the BCML and get expert advice.

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