Dead Corals Were Discovered in the Mountains of Alamada, Cotabato

Giant clams and brain corals are known species that are living in the ocean, but the location where these objects were found is in the middle of an upland agricultural area which is about 200 meters above sea level and more or less has 40 kilometers distance away from the nearest shoreline. Before the area was converted into agricultural land in the 1960s, it was forest land.

These are several pieces of brain corals and giant clam shells with thick accretion of sedimentary rock. The largest shell measures 32cm in length, 24cm in width and 15 cm in height and weighs 14 kilograms. The smaller pieces of shell are as big as a man's fist. The colors range from off white, yellowish and greyish with some brown and black spots.

The biggest brain coral measures 18cm X 12cm X 8cm (LxWxH) and the smallest one is as big as a human thumb.

As of this recording, there were more that 150 pieces of shells and corals were found and unearthed from the same area.

Some local Christian believe these were the remains of the great flood during the time of Noah, which the story is found in the book of Genesis of the Bible.

In previous years some locals say that they also found big shells at the other parts of the same stream.

Large and whole shells of giant clams were also found in the highlands of Putting Bato, Banisilan, which is about 10 kilometers away from the location of these archeological objects.

Why are these objects important?

1.  The objects could be used in future studies about the history of land formation of Alamada and the prehistoric species which once existed and buried in the Municipality.
2. Dead corals and clam shells have unique shape and details which stand out among common stones and pebbles.
3. The objects were found in an area which is about 200 meters above sea level and more or less than 40 kilometers away from the nearest sea.
4. These are good samples of corals and shells which still contain the identifiable appearance of the species.
5.  Dead corals which are found naturally existed in a mountain that far away from the seashore are very uncommon.
6. The existence of these archeological objects may be interpreted that the place was once upon a time submerged under the sea.