Mariners Ancient of the Philippines by JESUS T. PERALTA frenzy of both legal and illegal excavation was touched off four years ago with the disA covery of the earliest known Chinese ceramics in the Philippines. Dating to about the tenth century after Christ, these finds have attracted undesirable competition for the Philippine archaeologists seeking to shed light on their nation's obscure ancient maritime past. Pothunters looking for immediate economic rewards have concentrated their efforts nears Butuan City on the northeastern coast of the island of Mindanao. Archaeologists have followed quickly to protect and preserve whatever possible. In the search for lucrative Chinese imports, pothunters uncovered a cache of another kind, which will write an unknown chapter in the ancient history of the Philippines. Folk historians have lotig proposed seafaring Reconstructionofa balanghai, the typeofboatusedtotravelthroughout SoutheastAsia. Thefirst archaeological evidencefor this boatand its date havebeendiscoveredbyPhilippine archaeologistsnearButuan City wherethreerelatedboatswereuncoveredand conserved. October 1980 September/ 41