Scientists uncover 35,000-year-old seafaring culture in the Philippine Islands
By Knowridge -June 10, 2025
A map of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA) and the Sunda region as it appeared roughly 25,000 years ago at the height of the last Ice Age, with locations of archaeological sites surveyed by the Mindoro Archaeology Project. The sites yielded artifacts with remarkably similar characteristics despite separation by thousands of kilometers and deep waters that are almost impossible to cross without sufficiently advanced seafaring knowledge and technology. Credit: Base Map: gebco.net, 2014
A stunning new archaeological discovery reveals that people living in the Philippine islands more than 35,000 years ago were not only surviving—they were thriving with advanced technology and a strong maritime culture.
After 15 years of research, scientists from Ateneo de Manila University, working alongside international partners, have uncovered solid evidence that the Philippines played a major role in early human migration and innovation across Southeast Asia.
Published in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia, the findings come from the Mindoro Archaeology Project, which explored key sites in Occidental Mindoro, including Ilin Island, San Jose, and Sta. Teresa in Magsaysay.
These areas provide some of the earliest signs of modern humans—Homo sapiens—living in the Philippine archipelago.
What makes this discovery especially remarkable is that, unlike the island of Palawan, Mindoro was never connected to mainland Asia by land bridges.
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https://knowridge.com/2025/06/scientists-uncover-35000-year-old-seafaring-culture-in-the-philippine-islands/
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