Archaeology of Porac, Pampanga

The following are the descriptions of stratigraphies without the volcanic eruption correlations according to the article:

• Layer 1 (Context 1):

top plow zone, matrix volcanic sand from 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption. Cultural materials in the form of earthenware and tradeware ceramics are observed and recorded.

• Layer 2 (Context 2):

dark layer with organics, but still volcanic sand. Artifacts fragmented and not oriented.

• Layer 3 (Context 14):

mottled layer with plow markings. Artifacts are fragmented with occasional pot base sitting on the context with their top parts missing (due to layer plowing).

• Layer 4 (Context 5):

light brownish layer with extensive in cultural deposits and features.

• Layer 5 etc. (Context 38, 65 & 212):

laminated natural layers of volcanic material that extended to more than two meters deep

• Context 239:

3.5 meters from the surface; three pieces of earthenware sherds, not weathered[4]

Tradeware ceramics recovered from the site were dated as a mixture of 13th to 14th century and 16th century tradewares. Earthenware sherds were ubiquitous and several pot covers were recovered from different stratigraphies. However, no earthenware spindle whorls or net sinkers were recovered.[5]

At least three types of brass bangles, which were associated with burials, and two types of blades, which some have preserve fragments of sheathing or matting.[6]

Features recovered were postholes, hearths, middens, and plow marks. The postholes varied in their sizes, and 51 were recorded. Hearth remains were of ash and burnt stones and matrix concentrations. Middens were composed mostly of dumped ceramics.[7]

There are excavated tradeware ceramics identified to be from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Burma. Chinese green lead glaze ware sherds that are known to have originated from the Tang Period were dated from the 13th-14th century, which was significantly younger than the time period of the Tang Dynasty. Melendres points out that Addis believes that these are due to the continuation of the Tang tradition into later times.

It was also pointed out that the effects of the Chinese trade ban during the Ming Dynasty can be seen from the few early Ming Dynasty blue-and-white ceramics and the presence of ceramics from Thailand, Vietnam, and Burma. Celadon dishes found were similar to those found in the Twante district in Burma, while other celadon plates were most likely associated with Kalong wares from Thailand (15th-16th Century).

Ceramics from Central Vietnam were also recovered and are determined to be manufactured in Binh Dinh during the Viet's conquest of Vijaya. Furthermore, there were also Swatow or Zhangzhou type porcelains recovered that are dated to the 16th-17th century. Melendres concluded that the presence of the Zhanzhou porcelains tells us that the Babo Balukbuk site was still being used until the arrival of the Spanish forces.[8]