Discovered in 1965, the Angono Petroglyphs are believed to be the oldest known artworks in the Philippines. Dating to the third millennium B.C., they are a collection of 127 figural carvings engraved on the wall of a shallow cave of volcanic tuff. In 1973, they were declared a National Cultural Treasure, and in 1985 were listed on the World Inventory of Rock Art.
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Discovered in 1965, the Angono Petroglyphs are believed to be the oldest known artworks in the Philippines. Dating to the third millennium B.C., they are a collection of 127 figural carvings engraved on the wall of a shallow cave of volcanic tuff. In 1973, they were declared a National Cultural Treasure, and in 1985 were listed on the World Inventory of Rock Art.
Almost immediately after they were brought to public attention, the National Museum of the Philippines made several molds of the carvings. Subsequently, the site underwent cleaning and preliminary conservation during the 1980s. By the early 1990s, the Angono Petroglyphs were threatened by regional development pressure. After investigations, the importance of the site was fully recognized and measures were taken to protect the area and the carvings.
Although granted protection from total destruction, there was fear that new road construction and blasting into the hill behind the petroglyphs might have threatened the cave’s stability. The reshaped earth also raised concerns about the increasing threat of water damage to the site. Uncontrolled vegetation and fauna had causes erosion of the petroglyphs over time.
