agusans pre-hispanic cultural history is traced back to the great influence of the majapahit empire through the discovery of an tall image of a woman in pure gold at maasam, esperanza in 1917 and molten jars unearthed at bah-bah, prosperidad. the aborigines of agusan del sur are the ancestors of the present day mamanwas, who were driven to the hinterlands by waves of malay immigrants. these immigrants, in turn, sought the protection of the interior jungles because of the forays and the constant raids of "moro" pirates. the "moros" being seafaring people confined themselves to the coastal areas, where they started their settlements.