Pre-History of the Philippines

Much of the history of the Philippines only dates back to the arrival of the Spanish, with most of the previous records and evidence cleared upon their arrival. This means that much of what we know about the islands is based on knowledge of local islands and regions that did not have their history destroyed.

However, scientists have worked hard to use evidence and theories to piece together the history of this mysterious archipelago - including fossil evidence recovered in caves and other concealed areas. This has resulted in in many hypotheses that provide a basis for current understanding of how humans arrived, survived and developed in the Philippines.

Based on the evidence discovered across the archipelago so far, it’s possible that hominins could have inhabited the islands as far back as 700,000 years ago. More recent evidence also suggests details of human culture and diet. However, many believe the Philippines were not permanently populated by humans until less than 10,000 years ago.

To find out more about how evidence and theories have influenced our understanding of how human history developed in the Philippines, click on the links below: