23/05/2026
GREAT NEWS🔥📢📢📢
Archaeological Discovery in Mapanas, Northern Samar: Evidence of Early Mapanasnon Settlement
A significant piece of pre-colonial and Spanish-colonial history was brought to light in Barangay Delsur, Mapanas, Northern Samar. During routine excavations on the private land property of Ma'am Marissa Maeso, workers digging a hole for a residential house foundation near the river uncovered a well-preserved ceramic plate. Recognizing the potential historical value of the artifact, the find was brought to the attention of academic experts.
The artifact underwent rigorous authentication and technical assessment by a research team from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman School of Archaeology, led by Dr. Emil Charles R. Robles, an archaeologist specializing in GIS Mapping and Modelling.
Dr. Robles and his team confirmed that the artifact is an authentic Chinese tradeware ceramic plate dating from the late Ming Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty. This broad cultural and economic timeline indicates that the plate made its way to the Philippine archipelago between the 16th and 19th centuries, transported across maritime trade routes by Chinese merchants who frequented the coastal regions of Northern Samar for commerce.
The discovery provides compelling material evidence of an established, early Mapanasnon settlement along the riverbanks of modern-day Mapanas. Archaeologically, this artifact does not stand alone; it serves as a critical geographic and temporal link to the Ancient Sangat Burial Site located in the Mayongpayong area—a historical territory belonging to the adjacent Barangay Bugos, Mapanas.
The presence of high-value Chinese trade ceramics near both a domestic settlement site and a known ancient burial ground underscores the active participation of early Samar inhabitants in robust international maritime trade network. It further proves that long before western colonization deeply altered the landscape, the ancestors of Mapanas were part of a thriving, well-connected society with complex social, economic, and funerary traditions.
