Butuan Silver Paleograph

Treasure hunters who were looking for old ceramics and gold ornaments discovered this metal strip inside a wooden coffin.

According to Jesus Peralta, found inside were human remains with artificially deformed skulls - a practice in this region limited to Southern Philippines and unpopular in Luzon.

Due to the similarities found between the coffins, it is reasonable for archaeologists to assume that the latter came from that same era.

Debate, however, arose regarding the origin of the said artifact, but until now, it is considered to belong to Butuan where it was found.

Boechari of Indonesia, said Peralta, identified the writings as very close to a Javanese script that existed from the 12th to the 15th century.