SUANOY NA KAMPOSANTO (OLD CEMETERY SITE) of Camaligan, Camarines Sur

 

Take a stroll through history as you step foot on the Suanoy na Kamposanto, a relic of the Spanish era in this quaint town. The old cemetery served as the final resting place of Camaliguenos until 1996 and now stands as a testament to the town's rich heritage. With over a century of existence, this old burial ground has seen its fair share of history. Although the remains have been moved to a larger cemetery, the area is now adorned with a chapel, houses, and buildings, making it a lively and bustling spot.

Once owned by the Catholic Church, the Archdiocese of Caceres, this property holds a special place in the town's history. But in 2009, the LGU executed a Deed of Exchange, swapping properties with the church and giving up its cemetery lot in Brgy. Marupit. Today, this piece of land stands as a testament to the town's rich heritage, a living piece of history that has stood the test of time.

Pre-Hispanic deposits, which included human and animal remains, were discovered by a team of archaeologists from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of the Philippines (UP) during their archaeological works at the old cemetery site of Camaligan in July 2017. Based on the burial jars found with them, the artifacts were estimated to be at least 1,500 years old. Among the finds were 15 human remains belonging to both adults and children, each one a fascinating testament to the town's rich and ancient history.

The old cemetery site in Camaligan has yielded incredible discoveries. Human artifacts found at the site were sent to the US for radiocarbon dating and isotope analysis, and some were sent to a laboratory at the Ifugao State University for DNA analysis to determine whether the remains belonged to locals or migrants.

These findings, along with other artifacts like textiles, household objects, jars, and shell middens, have confirmed Camaligan as the oldest pure Bicolano community discovered.

If you want to know more about the archeological discoveries in the Suanoy na Kamposanto (Old Cemetery Site), check out the article ‘1500-year old artifacts found in Camarines Sur’ on Inquirer.

Note: As part of my work with the Municipality of Camaligan, one of my recent projects was to compile a list of tourist spots in the area that could be visited by both locals and visitors. This blog post serves as a digital version of that project, which will also be posted on the municipality's website to provide information to citizens about the various attractions in their region.