Comparison Analysis
The Tabon Caves: Tabon Man
The Tabon man was the remains that were found or discovered in the Tabon caves in
Palawan Island in the Philippines. With the discovery of the Tabon Man along the Tabon Caves
there are these two accounts by Robert B. Fox and by William Henry Scott. Both did a research
regarding about the first finding of the Tabon man. First off if we analyse the title of the
excerpt, Robert B. Fox is in titled “ The Tabon Cave: Archaelogical Exploration and Excavation
on Palawan Island, Philippines” and on the other hand William Henry Scott excerpt is called
“Prehispanic Source Materials for the study of the Philippine History” now with the excerpts title
are out, lets dig a bit for the authors background, Mr Robert B. Fox profession was an
anthropologist which specialize in the discovery of human remains and also artifacts. William
Henry Scott was a historian back then in which a job that requires to investigate and analysis of
the existing ideas and facts. The author’s background clearly states that based on their
profession Robert B. Fox now is more than credible than William Henry Scott.
The mention of dates in both excerpts can also determine who is more credible between
the two authors. In the excerpt of Fox he states the duration of the initial excavations of Tabon
cave on June and July of 1962 which means that he, himself conducted the excavation at that
time while Scott approached to the dates where it was discovered were more leaning on to the
current information that Fox says in his excerpt and nowhere it said the Scott did mention
about the excavation. I can also add my research about the dates on when was the account
was written, Robert B. Fox account was written in 1965 and for William Henry Scott, it was in
the 1968. That two alone affects the reliability of the accounts on who comes first than the
other one.
Another notably difference between the two authors were the way they sequence the
events of the finding of the Tabon man. Robert B. Fox explains the sequence of the event
specifically as if it was directly observed making placing him as the reliable source on the Tabon
man discovery. He describes the place as it was making data that the Tabon man were
probably dated from 22,000 to 24,000 years ago while Scott just describe the place as a kind of
little Stone Age factory again not clearly enough to suffice to the finding of Fox.
Between the two account the other one doesn’t make the other one less valid or reliable
but in the context of finding who discovered the Tabon man, it was clearly Robert B. Fox who
discovered it in the Tabon Cave in Palawan. Their profession also plays a big role in whose
stating it based on experience or just a mere work from “conversation” as Fox states. Him being
an anthropologist explains a lot as it was his forte making him more reliable and credible. In
connection for our topic “Sources” making Robert B. Fox as the primary source and William
Henry Scott as the secondary source.
Eunice B. Guevarra
BSN-1B