Guyangan Cave System

The Guyangan Cave System is an important archaeological site located on Banton Island, Philippines, known for its historical significance as a burial ground. The site comprises seven caves within a limestone formation on Guyangan Hill, which served as a secondary burial location during precolonial times. In 1936, archaeological excavations uncovered wooden coffins, human skeletal remains, and the oldest known burial cloth in Southeast Asia, the Banton Cloth, estimated to be 400 years old. These findings indicate a sophisticated precolonial society with established burial practices, including artificial cranial deformation among the nobility. As a recognized National Cultural Property, the cave system is protected for its cultural and historical value, with plans for a site museum to preserve and research the island's heritage.