Palawan burial jar lid repatriated to Philippines from Iowa, US

A limestone burial jar lid originally from Brooke's Point, Palawan, has been repatriated to the Philippines from Iowa, United States.

The burial jar lid, characterized by an anthropomorphic figure, was received by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) on June 14, according to its official Facebook page on Wednesday. The artifact was repatriated by the Madison County Historical Society (MCHS) in Winterset, Iowa.

The NMP said that the artifact was acquired by donor Donald Thomas in Brooke's Point, Palawan, in the 1960s as "a gift." In 1992, Thomas donated the burial jar lid to the society.

In a separate Facebook post, the Madison County Historical Complex shared that the burial jar lid was uncovered during the museum's ongoing inventory project early this 2024.

"Knowing the piece needed to return home, Assistant Director, Angela Stanford, worked through the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago to ensure the lid's delivery to its place of cultural importance and significance. We are excited to see the piece has arrived back home at the National Museum of the Philippines!" the museum wrote.

The burial jar lid was transferred to the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago last month.

"This repatriation comes just months after the return of the much-larger Sally A. von dem Hagen Collection of Limestone Burial Jars to the country," the NMP said.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News