Gealone, Andrea E.

BSN III-3
INCIPIENT PHASE Early Metal Age (c.500 BC - c.1 AD) The earliest metal tools in the Philippines were said to have first been used somewhere around 500 BC, and this new technology coincided with considerable changes in the lifestyle of early Filipinos. The new tools brought about a more stable way of life, and created more opportunities for communities to grow, both in terms of size and cultural development.
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Tools in response to the demands of expanded economic activities, our ancestors improved their knowledge and skills in metal work. Iron tools, ranging from small knives to elaborately forged weapons have been recovered from various archeological sites.

Core industries Ceramic Technology The most impressive innovation during the developed phase of the metal industry was pottery. Pottery highlighted in many ways the creative genius of ancient Filipinos. It enabled them to develop a radically efficient technology and to find a medium of expressing their artistic potentials. Associated development Weaving - One of the associated developments during the later part of the Incipient Phase was weaving. In fact, scholars argue that the four great technological complexes during this time were weaving, pottery, metalworking, and glassmaking.

Where communities once consisted of small bands of kinsmen living in campsites, larger villages came about- usually based near water, which made traveling and trading easier. The resulting ease of contact between communities meant that they began to share similar cultural traits, something which had not previously been possible when the communities consisted only of small kinship groups. Jocano refers to the period between 500 BC and 1 AD as the incipient phase, which for the first time in the artifact record, sees the presence of artifacts that are similar in design from site to site throughout the archipelago. Along with the use of metal tools, this era also saw significant improvement in pottery technology.

Cultural configuration This marked the beginning of the general leveling off of local and regional socio-cultural differences and the breakdown of isolation, especially among communities along the coastal areas throughout the archipelago.

Population Growth Another development during this time is the growth in population size. The widespread distribution of burial sites can indirectly tell us the growth of population as well as the presence of a community close to the mouths of rivers, hillsides, or caves.

Associated development Core industries The Incipient Phase may best be understood in terms of two important developments: The use of metal; The first phase refers to the initial appearance of metal. The second phase refers to its utilization as an implement for food production and for protection. Core industries Appearance of Metal The first metal said to appear in the country was copper. However, copper was not used extensively as material for tools but for ornaments. Bronze (an alloy of copper and tin) emerged almost simultaneously with copper. Because there is no local source of tin, archeologists have argued that bronze was brought to the country by traders coming from other parts of Southeast Asia. Core industries Early Use of Metal They could also mean symbolic representations associated with religious rituals. Pots of different types, sizes, and possible uses appeared. The decorations show the growing aesthetic tastes and preferences of the customers. The transition from stone to metal tools altered much of the local life ways. The development of new tools demonstrates that our ancestors were able to adapt to their environment effectively. The improvement of pottery; Progress in trade As material progress resulting from improved economy took place, communities became bigger and interaction among them intensified. Local trade became an important source of economic life. This trade increased and later became one of the motive forces of further cultural development. Emerging Social Class Another factor that tells about the emerging social class is the type and quantity of grave furniture recovered from ancient graveyards. The wealthy generally had more pabaon buried with their loved ones. Others do not have any. It can be inferred therefore that graveyards having expensive artifacts belonged to economically and socially well-placed members of society.