| Abstract: |
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP), a cultural agency responsible for the protection and preservation of cultural property of the country, conducted significant archaeological explorations and excavations in terrestrial and underwater sites in the country. The most recent significant discovery is a fragment of tibia with a dating of 47+ 11/-10 (kyr BP). Another significant finding is a human third metatarsal from Callao Cave with a minimum estimate minimum age of 66.7 +/-1 Ka, making it the oldest known human fossil in the Philippines, a result of a joint undertaking of the NMP and the University of the Philippines under the Archaeological Studies Program in Penablanca Limestone Formation, Caayan. To expand the NMP's research effort, 14 local and foreign archaeologists affiliated with universities and research institutions here and abroad were designated as National Museum Research Associates. For the past five years, NMP has encouraged international and regional collaboration with foreign institutions in intellectual discourse programs, capability building workshops, conferences, prevention of Illicit Traffic in Cultural Property, joint exploration, management of prehistoric sites, network for prehistoric researches, and joint-archaeological excavation. To ensure protection of archaeological sites and other cultural properties, the government enacted a law, Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage of 2009. The objectives are to protect the nation's cultural heritage
strengthen cultural institutions, encourage community's participation
and protect cultural workers. The NMP also takes the lead in the prevention of illicit traffic in cultural property. As the lead agency in the protection and preservation of archaeological sites, the NMP has supported and coordinated with local and foreign educational institutions in the conduct of Field Schools on Archaeology.
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