The artifacts are part of the larger Sally von Dem Hagen Collection discovered during hunting expedition in the 1970s

UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology

Eight remaining artifacts from the Sally A. von dem Hagen Collection of limestone burial objects from the Kulaman Plateau in Cotabato were formally repatriated to the Philippines at a ceremony hosted by UCLA’s Cotsen Institute of Archaeology held on April 10.

At the event held at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, Yey Coronel-Alcid, former executive director of the Filipino American Services Group, Inc. (FASGI), turned over the artifacts to Director-General Jeremy Barns of the National Museum of the Philippines. The turnover was witnessed by Celina Duffy, chairperson of FASGI, and Marianne Ubalde-Baclor, director of the National Museum of Anthropology of the Philippines. The event marked the return of the final pieces of the collection that had remained in the United States under the care of FASGI, with representatives from the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, Consul Levi Malaylay and Cultural Officer Bembit Villa, in attendance.

The repatriation process involved collaboration among several institutions and individuals, including the National Museum of the Philippines, Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles, FASGI and UCLA’s Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, where the artifacts were temporarily safeguarded prior to their return. The ceremony symbolized the completion of this effort and highlights the role of diaspora organizations and academic institutions in safeguarding cultural heritage while facilitating its return to its country of origin.

“This repatriation is symbolic in many ways,” said Stephen Acabado, chair of UCLA’s Archaeology Interdepartmental Program and director of Center for Southeast Asian Studies. “For decades, these objects were separated from the communities and landscapes where they were created and used. Returning them restores an important connection between heritage and place.”

The artifacts are part of the larger Sally von dem Hagen Collection, a group of limestone burial jars and associated objects originating from the Kulaman Plateau in what is now Sultan Kudarat, Mindanao, a mountainous region that remains home to Manobo communities whose cultural traditions continue to shape the social and historical landscape of the area. The artifacts were acquired in the early 1970s by American businesswoman Sally von dem Hagen after Dulangan Manobo hunters discovered them in caves during a hunting expedition. When von dem Hagen left the Philippines in 1979, she brought the objects with her to the United States, where they remained for decades.

In 2024, most of the collection—52 limestone burial jars and related objects—was repatriated and officially transferred to the National Museum of the Philippines through the initiative of von dem Hagen’s children and in collaboration with scholars, cultural institutions, UCLA students enrolled in a class titled “Collaborative and Community-Engaged Archaeology” that produced a virtual exhibit as part of this effort and members of the Filipino American community.

“The limestone ossuaries are unique within Philippine archaeology,” said Acabado. “Unlike most burial jars in the country, which are made of clay, the Kulaman examples are carved from limestone blocks and date to approximately the mid-first millennium C.E., reflecting burial traditions practiced in parts of Mindanao during around 1,500-2,000 years ago.”

In 2023, UCLA students enrolled in a class titled “Collaborative and Community-Engaged Archaeology,” produced a virtual exhibit to document the repatriation process: Cotabato Limestone Urns: Navigating Repatriation.

Once received by Director-General Barns, the eight artifacts will be transferred to the National Archaeological Collection of the National Museum of the Philippines, where they will join the rest of the repatriated von dem Hagen materials. The objects will contribute to ongoing research on ancient burial practices, stone-carving technologies and the complex cultural histories of Mindanao. The collection can be viewed at the National Museum of Anthropology of the Philippines.

“By working with partners in the Philippines and the Filipino American community, we can help ensure that these materials return to the institutions and communities where they hold the greatest significance,” said Acabado.

The recent ceremony underscores the importance of cooperation between scholars, cultural institutions and diaspora communities in ensuring that heritage objects are treated with respect and returned to the public domain where they can be studied and appreciated.

“Events like this show how universities can contribute to responsible stewardship of cultural heritage,” said Abel Valenzuela, dean of UCLA’s Division of Social Sciences. “It’s an example of UCLA’s commitment to archaeological practices that respect communities and a recognition that heritage objects carry meaning beyond the academy.”

The collaborative effort will build a framework for voluntary return and shared stewardship

Lyssa Stapleton, Waystation Initiative co-founder, will lead the NEH-funded project selected for its potential to use the humanities to address contemporary social challenges. 

UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology 

The Waystation Initiative at UCLA, the first university-based effort in the U.S. dedicated to advancing ethical stewardship and return of international cultural objects, has been awarded a grant to address the complexities surrounding unprovenanced or unethically obtained cultural objects.

The two-year, $350,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities will support efforts to advance two key solutions: shared stewardship and voluntary return. It is a broad discussion and effort to provide resources for institutions — mostly in the U.S. but not exclusively — and to help members of Indigenous communities find a voice within their own country, says Lyssa Stapleton, co-founder and director of the Waystation Initiative.

A centerpiece of this effort is “Creating Connections: Advancing Restitution and Stewardship of Cultural Heritage through Community Collaboration,” a two-day convening, which the Waystation Initiative will host this spring, coorganized with the Consensus Building Institute and the Fowler Museum at UCLA. Representatives from diverse communities across the globe will gather to foster dialogue and to develop shared strategies that promote forward-thinking solutions for cultural heritage in private and institutional collections. 

“This grant will support the crucial work of the Waystation in developing and exploring more equitable and collaborative approaches to the voluntary return and stewardship of cultural objects, advancing the cause of heritage justice,” Stapleton said. “Through international partnerships, our initiative fosters knowledge-sharing and collaboration among communities and nations, advocating for their rights to be the primary decision-makers concerning their cultural heritage.”

The grant will also support the launch of community consultations, which will engage diverse international communities to ensure that their needs and perspectives are central to new guidelines for shared stewardship and voluntary return. Community members hired as consultants will be drawn from the Waystation’s existing stakeholder network, participants in the 2025 “Creating Connections” convening and external contacts from global heritage initiatives.

Findings from these efforts will inform “The Best Practices for Voluntary Return and Shared Stewardship,” the grant’s final objective, which will be guided by the Waystation’s ongoing restitution efforts, community engagement, current research and case studies from other institutions involved in similar initiatives. 

The Waystation’s project was funded under the NEH’s United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture program and forms part of the broader American Tapestry: Weaving Together Past, Present, and Future initiative. The grant is one of six awarded from 33 competitive applications. The Waystation’s proposal was selected for its potential to use the humanities to address contemporary social challenges, including strengthening democracy and advancing equity for all. 

Launched in April 2023, the Waystation Initiative also includes a graduate certificate program in cultural heritage research, stewardship and restitution — the first university program in the U.S. to offer formal training in the ethics and mechanics of returning cultural objects to nations and communities of origin.

Read the full release about the grant on UCLA’s Cotsen Institute of Archaeology website.

The NEH award announcement can be found here.

This story was originally published in the UCLA Newsroom on February 10, 2025