Butuan Boat (Balangay)

butuan boat
Butuan Boat | Image Credit: Butuan National Museum

Did you know that the Butuan Boat (Boats) or frequently called Balangay (Balangays) is the oldest archaeological evidence of watercraft in the Philippines?

They existed more than 1,000 years ago.

The first three excavated boats, Boat 1 (1976), Boat 2 (1978), and Boat 5 (1986) as well as the recently excavated Boat 4 and Boat 9 (2012), were radiocarbon 14 dated to the 8th-10th century.

Since 1976, at least 11 boat remains have been reported, all within 1 km. radius in Libertad, Butuan City, though only 7 have been investigated by archaeologists. Of these, three were recovered and are housed at the National Museum of the Philippines. Boat 1 and Boat 5 are in Butuan and Boat 2 is in Manila.

The Butuan Boats are declared National Cultural Treasures and the sites are declared Archaeological Sites by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No.86 signed by President Corazon Aquino in 1987.

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