The Archaeological Excavation of the 10th Century Intan Shipwreck

ISBN-13: 9781841714288 / Angielski / Miękka / 2002 / 163 str.

Flecker, Michael

Opis

In 1997 Michael Flecker investigated a shipwreck in the north Java sea. The wreck comprised the remains of a mid 10th-century ship with its cargo of thousands of ceramic and non-ceramic artefacts. This report describes the methodology and aims of the underwater operation, discusses the finds that were recovered and places these within the context of maritime archaeology in southeast Asia. Flecker evaluates the evidence from the Intan shipwreck alongside contemporary historical information about sea travel, ports, trade routes and cargoes.

In 1997 the author excavated a shipwreck in the north-western reaches of the Java Sea, Indonesia. It became known as the Intan Wreck due to its close proximity to the Intan Oil Field. The wreck has been dated early to mid-10th century through Chinese coin dates, stylistic analysis of ceramics, and radiocarbon dating. While the structure of the shipwreck has all but disappeared, enough fragments remained for timber identification and a glimpse at construction techniques. These clues, together with cargo types and wreck location, strongly indicate an Indonesian ship of lashed-lug construction. From cargo distribution the Intan ship may have been as long as 30 m. The abundance of surviving cargo stands in stark contrast to the fragmentary hull remains. A total of 6,154 non-ceramic artefacts and 7,309 ceramic artefacts were logged over the course of the excavation. Materials are as diverse as bronze, lead, silver, iron, tin, gold, glass, ceramic, stone, and organics. Origins are as far afield as China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Middle East. Such diversity is a clear indication of entrepot trade, the most likely port of lading being the Srivijayan capital, Palembang. Considering the wreck location and the large base metal component, the Intan ship could only have been bound for metal deficient Java.