Decentering Chronologies: Integrating Indigenous Perspectives and Local Knowledge in Philippine Archaeology

Decentering Chronologies: Integrating Indigenous Perspectives and Local Knowledge in Philippine Archaeology

by Stephen B. Acabado 

(Professor, Department of Anthropology & Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA)

In this presentation, I reassess the Three-Age System and its derivatives, questioning their fit within Philippine archaeology. My argument pushes for a chronology that incorporates local and Indigenous perspectives. I highlight the shortcomings of typological models that overemphasize lithics and ceramics and the urgent need for comprehensive data that can establish a cultural chronology germane to the Philippine narrative. I argue against the imposition of Eurocentric frameworks, like the Three-Age System, which fail to capture the distinct archaeological character of the Philippines. Instead, I acknowledge the contributions of local anthropologists and archaeologists who are dedicated to establishing a bottom-up approach to chronology-building. This approach prioritizes behavioral models over typological ones and calls for the integration of Philippine archaeological data within the Southeast Asian regional framework. I stress the importance of moving beyond the European Three-Age System, proposing a periodization derived from within that honors the wealth of archaeological evidence, oral histories, and Indigenous knowledge systems. In this presentation, I aim to promote a more inclusive understanding of human-artifact relationships and challenge the regional and disciplinary boundaries that have historically characterized Philippine archaeology.