Archaeologists using high-frequency sonar have identified a submerged pre-colonial port facility off the coast of Cebu, Philippines. The ruins include stone jetties and timber pilings dating to approximately the 11th century, providing evidence of a sophisticated maritime hub prior to European arrival.
Initial dives have recovered intact local earthenware and trade ceramics from mainland Asia, suggesting the site was a central node in the flourishing regional trade networks. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the scale of early urbanism in the archipelago and highlights the significance of the Visayas region in ancient maritime commerce.