abs-cbnNEWS.com

The late American archaeologist Dr. Robert Fox did some excavation in Calatagan, Batangas from 1958 to 1961 and unearthed important artifacts.

He published his findings in 1959 based on some 1300 artifacts and information derived from 505 graves.

An important artifact surfaced during the excavation, a pot with pre-hispanic writing. The letters look similar to those of classic Philippine scripts (Tagalog, Tagbanwa, Buhid, and Hanunóo) but some appear to be oriented in strange ways.

Dr. Grace Barretto-Tesoro of the Archaeological Studies Program of the University of the Philippines (UP) will discuss the biography of the Calatagan finds on July 12th in a lecture dubbed "The multiple contexts of the Calatagan artifacts: Navigating a maze of meanings".

The lecture which is part of the Lopez Memorial Museum and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc.’s "Stories on Philippine Art" series, will focus on how and why objects such as the Calatagan artifact acquired their meanings.

Dr. Barretto-Tesoro is the vice president of the Katipunan Arkeologist ng Pilipinas (Kapi). She received her doctorate in archaeology from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

She specializes in cultural archaeology, mortuary analysis, and identity and gender in archaeology.

The "Stories on Philippine Art" lecture series aims to create more awareness of various personalities, art forms and practices in the country.

Lecture fee is P50 for students, P100 for Museum Foundation members and P150 for non-members.

Lectures will be held at the Lopez Memorial Museum, ground floor, Benpres Building, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue, Pasig City. For more info, call 631-2417 or 404-2685.