For over a decade, significant archaeological research has been conducted on stone - based structures along the coast of the Province of Misamis Oriental in northern Mindanao. Several colonial structures that include two churches and a visita or a chapel were excavated in the Municipalities of Opol and Jasaan and in Barangay Molugan, El Salvador City. These were constructed in the 19th century and are similarly located on a landscape – they are all situated on the hilltops with a commanding view of Macajalar Bay and the surrounding countryside. Said structures were used for religious purposes but were thought to serve as places of refuge and defense in times when people were attacked by slave raiders. However, there is no mention about them in local history and there is no public knowledge about them outside the areas where they are located. This study used archaeological data, oral accounts and historical records to ascertain the specific roles and functions of these hill structures in the respective communities where they are located, in order to bring knowledge and awareness of their significance and invaluable contribution to the history of Misamis Oriental Province.

This thesis investigates biological indicators of dental disease and nonspecific stress in human skeletal remains from Sapilang archaeological site in Ilocos Sur to determine the health status of its past inhabitants during the 12th to 16th century Philippines. Samples (n=12) were visually analyzed and scored according to established methods to determine the biological profiles of each individual. Dental pathologies (caries, calculus and antemortem tooth loss) were assessed by both the number of individuals and the number of elements observed, while nonspecific stress markers (enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis and Harris lines) were determined individually by occurrence. Only the male adults exhibited carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss (AMTL). Overall calculus deposits range from moderate to slightly severe. Both adults and subadults displayed at least one of the nonspecific stress markers, however Harris lines were not detected in the radiographs. The low incidence of caries and homogeneity of calculus accumulation distribution suggest the past inhabitants of Sapilang may have consumed low-cariogenic carbohydrates such as rice and vegetables, and high amount of marine resources. Additionally, this pattern is attributed to the practice of chewing betel nut (Areca catechu), which is cariostatic and promotes alkalinity in the oral cavity. The frequency of the nonspecific indicators of stress in both age cohorts indicates that the individuals have suffered early life insults, survived, but succumbed when their adaptive response failed another attack from stressors. Overall, the poor oral hygiene may have led to increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and the stress experienced early in life may have instigated life-long frailty in the individuals.

The Dewil Valley in El Nido, Palawan holds several known archaeological sites; most of these sites are caves and rockshelters within karst formations. There are a few open sites known but they yielded no metal artefacts while metal artefacts have been identified and reported by excavators in cave and rockshelter sites, no typologies or categorization were done to link these finds across the valley.
This study focuses on the metal artefacts recovered from archaeological sites in the Dewil Valley. The study attempts to better understand the metallurgical nature of artefact assemblages by categorization and improving on the system of classifying the materials mainly by morphology and chemical composition. The bases of this classification study of the metal artefacts focus on their physical characteristics such as state of preservation and type of material, form/shape features. This study also aimed and attempts to contribute in improving the classification of highly corroded metal artefacts. No attempt was made to improve on typology at this stage of the study; all metal artefacts were generally recovered within a time depth of 2000 BP to 300 BP.
Futhermore, analysis was done mainly through macro physical examination and the appliction of x-ray through imaging and fluorescence. The specific archaeological context, where the metal artefacts were found was also used in classification in order to better understand the purpose and more precise time depth for some of the artefacts. The classification of metal artefacts from the Dewil Valley has revealed the primary classes and forms that are prevalent. Artefacts with no sharp edges that are mostly made from iron comprised the majority, followed by blades, socketed, and circular artefacts. Majority of the artefacts with no sharp edges were likely broken intentionally and deposited as votive offering. The blades and socketed artefacts showed a preference towards having a double edged blade, which were more utilitarian than those with single edges. The non-edged artefacts are mostly made from non-iron materials that could signify their non- utilitarian and value. The elemental properties of the non-iron artefacts are highly suggestive that the early users of these metal artefacts had originally been introduced to the valley.
This study has created a classification system that may work and can basically be used for organising metal artefact assemblage in other sites supplemental with other methods. When this classification system was applied to the Dewil Valley sites, it supported current thinking that the sites within the valley are mainly ritual spaces, and may take future researches to a better position to answer production, exchange, and meaning.

The Philippine archipelago had been part of Southeast Asian maritime culture as early as the Neolithic period, evidenced by archaeological finds. Consequently early Chinese records show that the Philippines was part of maritime trade as early as the 4th century C.E. Although shipwrecks were discovered in what is currently considered as Philippine seas, a question of whether or not the cargo was bound for Philippine land had always been asked and the answer is often that the archipelago was a crossroads, and therefore not the intended end-users of the cargoes. In this thesis, the concept of the Philippines being a crossroads or entrepôt is being challenged by investigating a specific trade good: ceramics. The Lena Shoal and Sta. Cruz wrecks, for example carried large proportions of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain, reportedly decorated with Islamic designs.
With the term ‘Islamic motifs’ now being considered as a misnomer by some archaeologists and historians, this thesis proposes a more apt term—‘Islamicate.’ To properly identify what is Definitely Islamicate, Quasi Islamicate, and Not Islamicate the researcher formulated a set of criteria which includes studying the design elements and degree of decoration, form, and size. Using the criteria on underwater and terrestrial sites, it was discovered that there is a low occurrence of 15th century blue-and-white wares in land sites which have Definitely Islamicate motifs. The thesis was able to infer that the absence is due to a factor of time and the nature of trade being carried out in the Philippines during the 15th century C.E.