Oton Gold Death Mask PDF

THEOTONGOLD Death Mask A GlimpseintoaPre-Colonial PhilippinesBurialPractices  INTRODUCTION The Oton Gold Death Mask is a significant archaeological artifact from the Philippines, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and burial practices of ancient Filipinos. This unique item offe...

THEOTONGOLD Death Mask A GlimpseintoaPre-Colonial PhilippinesBurialPractices  INTRODUCTION The Oton Gold Death Mask is a significant archaeological artifact from the Philippines, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and burial practices of ancient Filipinos. This unique item offers insights into the social, cultural, and artistic life of early Filipinos, particularly their beliefs regarding the afterlife. It is one of the few known gold burial masks discovered in the country.  WHAT IS OTON GOLD DEATH MASK The Oton mask is made of gold sheet cut into eye and nose forms. Gold, which is a soft metal, is formed into sheet by beating and forging, then it is stretched and shaped. The shaped gold is further decorated by repoussage and embossing. OTON GOLD DEATH MASK  CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The burying of the dead with face covers is an ancient burial practice. The early Bisayans believed that the gold coverings in the eyes, nose and mouth protect the dead from evil spirits who want to occupy the dead body. They believed that the brightness of the gold drives away the evil spirits.  THE KATAGMAN FESTIVAL Every May, the town of Oton, Iloilo celebrates its Katagman Festival where high school students are dressed in colorful costumes, with their eyes and noses covered with gold-colored paper. Katagman is the pre-hispanic name of San Antonio, Oton where the first gold death mask in the country was excavated by the National Museum in 1973. Located between the Iloilo and Batiano rivers, Katagman was a port settlement and its seaport was one of the most important in the 1300s, as part of the flourishing maritime trade in the region. THE KATAGMAN FESTIVAL  BRIEF HISTORY OF OTON GOLD DEATH MASK It was found in a grave in San Antonio, The death mask in Oton was the first Oton, Iloilo, alongside other ancient of its kind to be recovered in situ and artifacts. declared a National Cultural Treasure. Its discovery was celebrated because Estimated to be late 14th to early 15th it was found in situ on June 5, 1967, century based on grave goods found during the systematic archaeological nearby, it has two parts: an eye cover, excavations led by NM anthropologists 13.3 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width, Alfredo Evangelista and F. Landa and a nose piece, 16.3 cm in length and Jocano, an Ilonggo 5.5 cm in width, and weighs 13.09 g.  OTHER DEATH MASK The Oton Death Mask is one among the several gold masks found in precolonial graves and most of ancient gold artifacts found in the country are associated with burial sites. The National Museum has three sets of gold death masks from Oton, Cebu City, and Butuan.  POTENTIAL ELEMENT OF OTON GOLD DEATH MASK CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES MONETIZATION 1.Preservation and 1. Cultural Tourism and While Direct Conservation Promotion Commercializing is not 2.Limited Historical 2. Increased Research deal, Educational lnterpretation and Collaboration Program, museum 3. Public Awareness 4.Resource Constraints tours and exhibition can generate income  POTENTIAL ELEMENT OF OTON GOLD DEATH MASK EXPOSURE STRATEGIES Partnerships with academic Greater Media exposure through institutions and digital archiving documentaries, exhibitions, and are key strategies to both collaboration with international preserve and promote the museum could increase public mask. Additionally, offering interest virtual museum experiences could expand global access  Conclusion The Oton gold death mask is not only a valuable cultural artifact but also a testament to the rich history and traditions of pre- colonial Philippine civilizations. Its existence offers a glimpse into the complex spiritual beliefs and burial rituals of the ancient Visayans, while also reflecting their advanced metalworking skills. The mask’s discovery provides scholars with invaluable insights into the social structure, trade, and cultural practices of early Philippine societies. THANKYOU very much