Tabon Cave human remains

Record summary

Excavations begun in 1962 at Tabon Cave and neighboring caves recovered human remains, stone tools and faunal material that became foundational for Philippine prehistory. The remains popularly called Tabon Man were initially used to support early modern human occupation of the archipelago, while the broader cave complex documented repeated settlement and mortuary activity. The lead matters for comparing island colonization narratives, but specimen dates, anatomical classifications and associations with individual layers have not always been equally secure. Later uranium-series and radiocarbon work should be consulted.