Astillero of Donsol

Astillero is Spanish for ?shipyard?. And the Astillero of Donsol, located in Barangay Dancalan, just across the Donsol wharf, is believed to be one of the biggest shipyards in this part of the country during the time of the Spaniards. But what is even more interesting about this Dancalan Astillero is that it doubled as a metalworks site, which makes it the only one of its kind discovered so far in the country to this day. This, according to archeologists from the National Museum. The archeological excavation, which started December 1995, and the discovery of the shipyard and the metal factory on the site was made through the joint efforts of the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council, the Sorsogon Arts Council and the National Museum, with funding from the Department of Tourism. Uncovered on the site is a rectangular concrete structure, believed to be the remains of what was once the metalworks factory or smelting shop. Many artifacts and ecofacts were unearthed from the site by archeologists of the National Museum. This only proves the folk story that once upon a time in the past, Donsol was populated by expert metalworkers and smelters. The name Donsol itself is an old Bikol word for ?anvil?, the heavy metal block used by smithies to hammer and fashion iron sheets into nails, bolts, blades, spears, etc. Even the name of the barangay where the Astillero is located ? Dancalan ? refers to the Dancalan Tree, a hardwood tree preferred by shipbuilders for the construction of those magnificent Spanish galleons.

 

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