Table of Contents
What is the Surigao treasure?
Dealers and collectors began referring to the gold objects as the ‘Surigao Treasure’.” This cache ended up among the more than 1,000 gold objects collected by the late archeologist Cecilia Locsin, wife of Philippine national artist Leandro Locsin, between 1960 and 1981, according to Asia Society’s event brief.
Who discovered the Surigao treasure?
operator Berto Morales
On another construction site in 1981, heavy machinery operator Berto Morales discovered approximately 22 pounds of gold pieces, now known as the Surigao Treasure.
Did Spaniards get gold in the Philippines?
Today the country is said to have the world’s second richest gold deposits. When the Spanish landed, they found natives sporting much gold jewelry and regalia.
What treasure is found in Surigao del Sur in the year 10th 13th century?
Sash or caste cord. Surigao Treasure, Surigao del Sur province. Ca. 10th–13th century.
Where in the Philippines gold are found?
The major districts for mining gold in the Philippines are Baguio and Paracale in Luzon and Masara, Surigao and Masbate in Mindanao.
Is there gold buried in the Philippines?
Some people believe that there is gold treasure hidden in the Philippines, but no one has been able to find it yet. Only time will tell if the treasure hunters will be successful in their quest.
Is the Philippines still rich in gold?
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a thriving industry in the Philippines, with an estimated 500,000 miners operating in more than 40 provinces out of 81 provinces in the country. The Philippines is among the top 20 producers of gold worldwide, with 70 percent of its gold is attributed to ASGM.
Where can gold be found in the Philippines?
The major gold producing areas in Philippines are districts of Baguio and Paracale located on the Island of Luzon and Marasa, and the locations in Mindanao such as Surigao and Masbate. Gold in Philippines exist as placer and lode deposits, which attracts all mines of all different sizes.
What is the size of the treasure in Surigao del Sur?
Surigao Treasure, Surigao del Sur province. Ca. 10th–13th century. Gold. H. 4 ¾ x W. 2 15/16 in. (12 x 7.5 cm). Ayala Museum, 81.5189. Photography by Neal Oshima; Image courtesy of Ayala Museum. An object uncovered by Edilberto Morales in 1981.
What is the importance of Surigao artifacts in Philippine history?
So far, the Surigao artifacts comprise the earliest known collection of significant importance in Philippine history because this is the first grouping of such pieces, which show highly sophisticated crafting and detailing previously unknown to historians.
What is the history of Surigao gold?
Thus, the Surigao gold objects’ date-stamp could be placed in the span of the 10th to the 13th centuries, A.D., pre-Hispanic era. The center graphic is a watercolor image from the Boxer Codex, published c. 1590.
What is the significance of the discovery of the Surigao Hoard?
The discovery of the Surigao gold hoard constitutes a major find in the anthropological history of the Philippines.