Three burial caves shrouded by local legends hide in the sacred grounds of Alab Oriente, Bontoc. The burial caves, collectively known as the Ganga Caves, are located on the slopes of the village’s Mt. Data. Inside, they hold over a hundred pinewood coffins containing human remains from what is believed to be an ancient tribe, according to the present-day local community.
Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that the caves are shallow and are suspected to be the result of weathering into what once were huge boulders. Half the flooring of one of the caves was a man-made rock pile, which secured the coffins in place. Other than pinewood coffins, two of the caves also contain jars with human remains. This was recognized by the Bontoc people as a form of tradition called jar burials.
Today, locals and experts still question how the coffins were placed inside. Each one weighs more than the combined mass of two people, and even more with a body placed inside. In addition, the rough terrain of the caves make them difficult to navigate, especially with a heavy load. And yet, the coffins seemed to be uniformly placed within the caves.
Legends from the community say that the people inside the coffins were either cursed or died from poisoning as a punishment from the gods, while those in the jars may have been special or held high status, or perhaps they were children and simply fit best. Some say those in the coffins were a group of people who temporarily lived at the mountain to escape the atrocities of Japanese soldiers during World War II. Others say that they are the direct ancestors of the present tribe living in Alab Oriente, who also carved the 3,000-year-old Alab Petroglyphs.
To date, no one knows the true identity of the people who were laid to rest in the caves, as well as the cause of their death. As of 2025, no academic studies or carbon dating have been done on site, leaving more questions than answers about this mysterious site.
