Tabon Caves

Quezon, Philippines

---

The Tabon Caves, located in Lipuun Point, Panitian, Quezon, Palawan in the Philippines, is a significant archaeological site known as the "cradle of civilization" in the country. The cave system, consisting of over 200 caves carved into limestone formations, yielded important prehistoric human remains including the Tabon Man, which dates back around 16,500 years and marks the earliest evidence of modern humans in the Philippines.

Discovered between 1962 and 1966 by a team led by Dr. Robert B. Fox, the caves also contain jar burials and artifacts spanning from 50,000 years ago to about 700 years ago, revealing a long history of habitation and cultural development.

The site is protected as a National Cultural Treasure and managed by the National Museum of the Philippines, and it is part of the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination. The complex is accessible by concrete trails and boardwalks and provides valuable insights into the prehistory and early settlement of the archipelago.