Johann Raphael A.

Soriano
BSSE 1 YB-1

Assignment #1 (Prelim)

1. What are the lessons you have learned from the excerpts of “The Tabon Caves” by Robert Fox? How
about the video entitled, The Philippine Story series, The Tabon Caves by Hugh Gibb and Robert B. Fox?
Please list down at least 5 details from these sources. Can they be considered as a primary source? Yes or
no? Explain.

● During the initial explorations of the Tabon Cave in June and July 1962, scattered fossil bones of
at least three individuals were discovered including fragments of a frontal bone containing brows
and some portions of nasal bones.
● The available data suggests that Tabon Man could be dated back to a period ranging from 22,000
to 24,000 years ago.
● The fossilized remains belong to Homo sapiens, offering valuable insights into the ancient human
presence within the Tabon Cave.
● After conducting a preliminary study of Tabon Man's fossil bones, it was discovered that it
exhibits above-average skull dimensions when compared to the contemporary Filipino.
● Archaeological findings such as this one significantly enhance our understanding of prehistoric
human life and culture, offering a glimpse into the distant past of the Philippines within the Tabon
Cave.

Yes, these sources can be considered primary sources. The reason is that Robert Fox and Hugh Gibb were
the very first ones to discover and study the Tabon Caves. They were hands-on in the excavations in the
Tabon Caves, including performing analyses on the artifacts, human remains, and tools found in the
caves.

2. Compare the findings of Robert Fox on the Tabon man with the findings of William Henry Scott. Can
the account of William Henry Scott be considered a primary source?

- Based on the text in the book that I read, Robert Fox is a researcher whose research is centered on
archaeological excavations and the analysis of human remains, tools, and artifacts found in the Tabon
Caves in Palawan, Philippines.

However, William Henry Scott was a historian and scholar who is famous for his studies on Philippine
history and ethnohistory. One could say that mostly his contributions in his field were the interpretation
and analysis of historical documents that are focused in the Spanish colonial period. In addition to that, he
only referenced a lot of his historical accounts from archaeological findings.

In conclusion, William Henry Scott's accounts cannot be classified as primary sources. Primary sources
typically consist of firsthand accounts or original documents created at the time of the study. Unlike the
works of Robert Fox, who actively engaged in archaeological excavations, Scott was not directly involved
in the events he wrote about, thus categorizing his works as secondary sources.