Burial urn

These two limestone jars probably once contained human bones. They were discovered in a cave in Cotabato province, Mindanao. The relatively small size of the jars indicate that the bodies of the deceased had decomposed before the bones were placed in them. A tradition of jar burials existed in the Philippines from the early Neolithic period, and continues in some parts of Southeast Asia to the present day.

Philippine limestone burial urns typically are adorned with simple motifs such as zigzag, diamond, and other geometric patterns. A common decoration on the lid is a three-dimensional human head and arms. In the example with such a head here, the face is quite detailed. The eyes and nostrils were drilled. The headband with a triangular element above the forehead may have indicated the status of the deceased.