Paper short abstract:

This paper provides an overview of what is currently known about Philippine Metal Age socio-political organization, significance of foreign trade contacts, the relationship to later maritime trading polities, and differences from Metal Age archaeological patterns elsewhere in island Southeast Asia.

Paper long abstract:

In many ways, the 'Metal Age' in the Philippines, has been an enigma in terms of the types of social and political formations that may have existed in the period, the social meaning of exotic preciosities that circulate in the archipelago, and the connections of Metal Age societies to politically centralized maritime trading polities of the Early Historic Period. The most salient archaeological remains are clustered jar burials in caves or on terraces at higher elevations with artistically crafted earthenware, metal goods, foreign beads and other ornamental objects. These appear to represent a form of collective social identity, rather than the seeds of individualized or kin group aggrandizement foreshadowing the social stratification of later historic chiefdoms. Archaeological settlement data for the Metal Age is poorly developed, with limited evidence for incipient "centers" in coastal areas, but requires more emphasis on regional settlement studies. In addition to exploring these issues of Metal Age socio-political organization, the significance of foreign contacts, and relationship to later maritime trading polities, I also examine the ways in which these Metal Age societies appear to diverge from those elsewhere in island Southeast Asia with early monumental landscapes, diversified foreign trade, and early state development.