2025 ILLE CAVE FIELDWORK AND REPAIRS AT DEWIL VALLEY MUSEUM

Hi, we are a team of archaeologists from the Palawan Island Palaeohistory Research Project, a 20-year project working in collaboration with the developing communities of New Ibajay in north Palawan to teach archaeological research as part of El Nido community ecomuseum and ecotourism development initiatives. We also educate new generations of Philippine, European and other archaeologists as part of a joint international collaboration between University College Dublin and University of the Philippines Schools of Archaeology. In previous years we have been funded primarily by private funds from Philippine industry, and for 3 years by a British Academy larger research grant. Ireland does not give small grants for archaeological or heritage projects in the Philippines, but UP has donated funds and support towards research involving student and postgraduate training.

In Sept 2024 our colleague, co-director and friend Prof Victor Paz died after a long battle with multiple myeloma. Victor was our funding champion and we are scrambling to raise the required funds for our April 2025 field season in the Dewil Valley. Specifically, we hire about 20 local people every year to assist the archaeology team, to manage the Dewil Valley Museum, and help with tourist visitors. The funding will cover their salaries for 1 month when the excavations are on (April 2025), food costs for the team for that time, equipment shipping costs, and basic repairs needed to the Dewil Valley Museum, which fell into disrepair during 3 years without tourism over the covid pandemic. We are doing the 2025 field season in memory of Victor Paz, so this is a one-off funding request and will not cover the long-term project. Individuals, including students, are raising their own funds to come to support the project and we are not asking for any help towards personal, travel or administrative costs for the Manila-based and European archaeological teams. Thanks for any help you can give. For this one, time is of the essence, and we appreciate you considering our project. We will be digging in April 2025 (this year) - if funds are raised - and would be happy to meet you at Ille then, and our local collaborators always welcome visitors to Ille Cave and the Dewil Valley year-round. Thank you again.

Cost breakdown: c. 5000 will support two cave mapping teams with local guides and assistants, and hire cooks and camp staff, 5000 will support an archaeological team excavating at Ille Cave, including food, water, electricty and will hire local people to work in cave excavations and artefact management, and 5000 will go toward repairs to the roof of the Dewil Valley Museum, painting and refreshing the displays, and to assist the curators and wardens of the sites in the Dewil Valley.