BORINAGA, IAN AMIEL S.

BSN 3C

A. Which is the primary source and the secondary source between the two readings?
Primary source:
The Tabon Caves: Archaeological Explorations and Excavations on Palawan Island, Philippines –
Tabon Man written by Robert B. Fox
Secondary source: Prehispanic Source Materials for the Study of Philippine History (Revised
edition) by William Henry Scott.

The first reading is the primary source since the author Robert Fox is known to have discovered
the remnants of the Tabon Man. He added his own observations and analysis, emphasizing his
own detailed observations and for me it somehow kinda ressembles a personal journal
accounting his discovery of the Tabon Man. On the other hand, the second article written by
Henry Scott, seemed to be a commentary of articles about the Tabon man. It turned
interpretations of different facts of Tabon man, he added a scenario about a Tabon man
blending in today and dressed decently just like the people nowadays. Also, he stated his
sources in the written article like “Two experts have given a further opinion…”

B. Do a credibility analysis of the sources. Who between the two authors is more credible to talk
about the topic?
Year it was discovered: 1962
Robert B. Fox
-Written it in 1970
-Anthropologist
-Discovered Tabon man
-First person/ was more of like a journal

William Henry Scott

-Written it in 1984
-Historian
-The findings seemed more formal; informative, somehow intended for others to be read and
understand.

The more credible author to talk about the topic is Robert B. Fox because he experienced it first
hand and he is an eye witness. He was the one who discovered the Tabon man and the date of
the written work is closer than William’s to the year of the event. The fact that he is an
anthropologist, which study of various aspects of humans within past and present societies,
makes his writing more reliable and valid.