UCLA anthropologist and archaeologist Stephen Acabado discusses his long-term research in Ifugao, Philippines, where he investigates the origins of the famous rice terraces. Challenging the long-held belief that the terraces are 2,000 years old—a narrative rooted in early 20th-century anthropology—Acabado explains how archaeological evidence, radiocarbon dating, and community collaboration reveal a much more recent construction. He highlights how colonial-era theories shaped national history curricula and how local oral histories provide vital context for reinterpreting the terraces’ timeline.