Kalis: Origin of Minadanaon Kris

[baganing_balyan]

Originally Posted by Bill

I fall into believing the "Deluge Theory" which Gimbutas hints at but others provide some evidence. How early & how far different groups traveled & had direct or even indirect influences may never be proved. The Vikings traded in Bagdad so we know there was some extreme early trading. Considering the length & size of the Ottoman Empire there likely was early direct influence but if not, surely indirect. But i'd think some forms of contacts before the Ottoman period between Turkey & "the Islands" likely but I certainly have no proof. DNA studies are likely to throw some wrenches into current history. Early Brunei was a trade center & could be a link. You might also look into the gold death masks found on Mindanao/Sulawesi & those found in Egypt & China. And if you don't mind, please find out who dug those ancient mines in Mindanao.

I think gold was mined and valued by early Filipinos specially in the Caraga region. Pigafetta wrote about early Filipinos with gold teeth. Interestingly, there are lumads (natives), mandaya in particular, who still keep the tradition until today. Old mandayas have one or two gold front teeth and the rest are black from lime and bettel nuts we call apog and mama.