[Article] Jewel of Muscat arrives in Singapore.

Channels NewsAsia | 3 July 2010 | By Saifulbahri Ismail


The Jewel of Muscat has arrived in Singapore. A replica of a 9th century Arabian dhow, it is a gift from the Sultanate of Oman to the Government and people of Singapore.
After more than four months at sea, its journey has been described as a triumph of the human spirit.
The ship set sail from Oman and called at ports in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia on its way to Singapore. When it finally docked at the Marina Keppel Bay on Saturday, the crew were greeted by Omani dancers, and Singapore's own welcoming party.
At the welcome ceremony, President S R Nathan congratulated the crew for their successful journey. The ship will be housed as a centrepiece of Resorts World Sentosa's upcoming attraction, the Maritime Xperiential Museum.
President Nathan said: "Being at the crossroads between east and West, Singapore is a fitting place for the Jewel to be based. "Historically, ships from Arab destinations stopped in Singapore or in ports nearby to await the change of the monsoons, before continuing their journey eastwards to China or the other way."
The 18-metre long ship was built using traditional materials. Not a single nail or screw was used, and the crew stayed as true as possible to ancient sailing methods.
Saleh Said Al Jbri, captain, Jewel of Muscat, said: "She sailed fast when she wished, and she is slow as well when she so likes. "But she was keen to reach Singapore, carrying noble meaning and values, and beautiful memories of her hometown Oman."
The Jewel of Muscat project will be remembered as a testament to the excellent ties between Singapore and Oman. - CNA/ms

More informations :

- Jewel of Muscat to be housed at RWS' Maritime Xperiential Museum | Channel News Asia | By S Ramesh | 1 July 2010

- Jewel Of Muscat To Become Centrepiece Of Sentosa Maritime Museum | Bernama | By Zakaria Abdul Wahab | 1 July 2010

[Article] Indonesia To Build Maritime Museum.

JAKARTA, May 10 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian government is planning to build a maritime museum in Jakarta in a bid to save the treasure, artifacts and valuable goods retrieved from the old sunken ships in Indonesia's waters, a minister said Monday.

"We have planned to build a museum, in particular, to store the valuable goods retrieved from many of ships sunk hundreds of years ago in our waters," Indonesian Maritime and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying after opening an oceanography conference in Bali.
The minister said that the Indonesian government would contact officials in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the plan.
Fadel said that Indonesia's waters have treasures and artifacts from sunken ships that were operated by Arabian, Chinese traders and the Dutch colonial administrator that ruled the country a hundred years ago.
Now, plenty of treasures and valuable artifacts are placed in several museums across the country, according to the minister.
"The would-be built maritime museum would gather all of those things and display for the public," he said.
An Indonesian agency tasked to retrieve those artifacts and treasures found valuable earthenware, ceramics from Chinese and Arabian trading ships that sank in waters off Cirebon, West Java recently, reports said. -- BERNAMA

[Article] Underwater archaeological investigation for ancient vessel in South Sea.

English.news.cn | 2010-05-10 | (Source: CCTV.com | Editor: An)
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BEIJING, May. 10 -- The submarine archaeological probe on an ancient vessel sunk in the South China Sea near Shan'tou has been going on for about a month. Nearly 1,000 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved.
Archaeologists say the vessel, known as "Nanao No.1", contains some very rare and valuable porcelain wares. Most of them were made by two leading workshops in Zhangzhou and Jingdezhen, back to the Song and Ming dynasties. Among those already retrieved from the water, the biggest one is a "China Blue" plate. Its diameter is up to 30 centimeters.
The area where the ship sak is along a very important commercial route of the East Asia, better known as silkroad on the sea. It linked Japan and the Korean peninsula in the north, the Philippines i the east ahd Indonesia in the south.

The submarine archaeological probe on an ancient vessel sunk in the South China Sea near Shan'tou has been going on for about a month. Nearly 1,000 pieces of cultural relics have been retrieved.(CCTV.com)

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More photography

[Article] Ancient ship gives up hoard of rare porcelain.

Xinhua  |   2010-5-3

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A TREASURE trove of priceless porcelain has been uncovered from a 400-year-old merchant shipwreck, evidence that Chinese merchants may have flouted bans on foreign trade.
More than 80 pieces of porcelain from Emperor Wanli's reign (1573-1620) have been salvaged from the ancient ship off south China's Guangdong Province, the provincial cultural relics bureau announced yesterday.
Archaeologists believe the ship, which sank in waters off Nan'ao County, Shantou City, may have been carrying 10,000 pieces of blue-and-white porcelain from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Some of the larger porcelain bowls found in the vessel, dubbed "Nan'ao-1," were probably made for foreign trade as they were not commonly used in Chinese daily life at that time, experts believe.
The find is particularly interesting as Wanli's administration banned sea trade.
Sheet copper and coins found during the salvage operation indicated the ship might have been smuggling copper too, as its export was also banned at the time, said Sun Jian, head of the salvage team.
The Ming Dynasty restricted private sea trade to deter piracy, which had imposed huge hardships on legitimate sea traders, and ensure maritime security along Chinese coastal areas.
Many ancient Chinese dynasties, including the Ming Dynasty, banned the export of copper as the metal was precious, hard to mine and mainly used to manufacture coins in ancient China.
The team also recovered equipment that looked like cannon, but it was not unusual for ancient merchants to arm their ships against pirates, said Sun.
More than 20 experts started the salvage operation on April 9 and would finish in another 90 days if weather conditions permitted, he said.
The excavation was scheduled to begin on September 26 last year, but was postponed due to severe weather conditions, including typhoons and cold snaps.
Archaeologists have been saying they believe the wreck will shed new light on China's foreign trade at the time.
Local fishermen in May 2007 found the wreck, estimated to be about 25 meters long and 7 meters wide, buried in silt 27 meters underwater and about 5.6 nautical miles from Shantou City.
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[Article] UNESCO chief concerned by auction of ancient artifacts.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 05/06/2010
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Director general of UNESCO Irina Bokova has expressed concern about negotiations to sell a large number of artifacts salvaged from the wreck of a 10th century ship lying off the coast of Java, saying Indonesia may lose a valuable heritage.
UNESCO, therefore, is encouraging the Indonesian government to make every effort to ensure that a thorough scientific examination of the site is carried out and the artifacts are exhibited in museums.
“It would be unfortunate to allow the heritage of such an historical and archaeological value to be scattered, thereby depriving both scientists and the general public of access to an exceptional collection. Exploiting an archaeological site and dispersing its artifacts is an irreversible process. Yet the contents of the shipwreck found off the coast of the city of Cirebon have much to tell us about cultural and commercial exchanges in the region at that time,” Bokova said in a press statement Wednesday.
The sale of the cargo by the Indonesian government was originally set for May 5 in Jakarta but it was postponed for lack of buyers.
UNESCO, through its 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, urges states to safeguard sunken heritage and to make it available for scientific study and public enjoyment.
Bokova said UNESCO would stand ready to lend its expertise in museology and conservation to the Indonesian authorities to conserve the artifacts.
Located by a private exploration company in 2004 off the coast of Cirebon in northern Java, the ship is thought to have foundered in the 10th century as it sailed to Java from Sumatra. More than 270,000 artifacts (Chinese ceramics, religious objects, jewelry, gold coins, pottery etc.) were salvaged from the wreck, giving the discovery exceptional historical value.
In 2007, a mission of experts from UNESCO visited the site where the find is stored. The experts underlined their historical importance and the need to conserve them in suitable conditions. They offered to help the Indonesian government preserve the artifacts, which are particularly fragile when they are brought out of the water.
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[Article] Malacca’s founding date stirs debate.

Sunday May 2, 2010 | The Star Online.


MALACCA: The recent announcement by local historians pushing back the founding of the Malacca Sultanate by over 120 years, has attracted both public support and controversy.
While many are in support of the findings, there are also calls for a public forum to be held before the state-appointed panel officially declares 1278 as the date of the founding instead of the widely accepted date of either 1396 or 1400.
The issue has also caught the attention of local bloggers such as Jebat Must Die with fierce debates taking place online.

Maritime Archeological Museum’s Jason Yoong, who supports the findings, said there were artefacts proving the existence of the city in that period.
“Shards of green glazed pottery dating back to the Song Dynasty of between 960 and 1279 have been found over the years.
“There are also odd-shaped tin artefacts discovered from the Malacca River, thought to be a simple form of currency before standard minted coins were used here in the 1400s,” he said, calling for a forum for experts to share their views on the matter.
Another supporter is Dennis De Witt, a 45-year-old local expert on 17th Century Dutch history in Malaysia.
“There will be those who may dispute the date. Yet, it seems logical if one traces backwards from the 15th century Malacca Sultanate’s lineage,” said the author of Malaysian Dutch History, adding that he was eager to share his views during such a forum.
One blogger has argued against the earlier date, adding that a Buddhist monk penning his travels around the region in the 13th century had failed to mention Malacca despite listing numerous towns and ports.
The findings by the panel, comprising 11 professors from local universities such as Universiti Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, still have to be approved by the state authorities. The panel, which has for its members academicians like Tan Sri Prof Dr Khoo Kay Kim and Tan Sri Aziz Tapa, began its research in June last year to fix the date of Malacca’s founding.
Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaacob had mooted the setting up of the panel, which would make an official declaration in October. Panel chairman Prof Datuk Yusof Hashim said both local and foreign experts, including those from the Netherlands, England, Australia, Indonesia and Brunei, would be invited to discuss their findings later this year.

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[Image] Ancient proof : Jason Yoong showing off the celadon shard and tin piece found here over the years that support the 1278 founding year.

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[Article] Treasure Hunter Unwelcome in Indonesia After Alleged Theft of Undersea Artifacts.

April 30, 2010 | Jakarta Globe | Nivell Rayda

The National Police and immigration officials have slapped a travel ban on treasure hunter Michael Hatcher, as authorities investigate allegations that he stole undersea artifacts.

“We have imposed a travel ban, that is one of our anticipative measures,” National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said on Friday.

He said police were still tracking the whereabouts of the 70-year-old treasure hunter, who was reportedly born in Britain but grew up in Australia.
He is being tracked down for trying to smuggle thousands of pieces of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) porcelain out of the country in two ships that were intercepted off West Java in September. Some 2,360 pieces of porcelain were seized on the ships.
“We are still investigating the case and no one has been charged yet,” Ito said.

Police are moving to prevent Micheal Hatcher, pictured, from entering the country after he is believed to have found yet another shipwreck and treasure. 

Maroloan Barimbing, spokesman for the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, said that although Hatcher was a foreigner and could be out of the country, a travel ban was still possible. “If he enters Indonesian territory he will be prevented from leaving again.” The ban will be in effect until October.
Aji Sularso, director general of supervision at the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, said Hatcher should be immediately declared a suspect.
“Police should name him as a suspect to make the investigation process easier. By charging Hatcher, police could cooperate with Interpol to track his whereabouts and ensure that he will be brought to justice.”
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea recognizes the “preferential rights” (and not claims) of the country of origin, cultural origin or historical/archaeological origin, leaving a legal quandary over who can claim shipwrecks or cargoes.
Hatcher’s salvage missions in Indonesia began in 1980 with the discovery of the wreck of the De Geldermalsen in East Bintan, Riau Islands, from which he recovered Chinese porcelain that was auctioned for $20 million.
In 1999, Hatcher raised 365,000 porcelain items from the wreck of the Chinese junk Tek Sing, which ran aground off southern Sumatra in 1822, constituting the biggest find of its type ever.
Since 2008 Hatcher has been seen in Blanakan, West Java, with operator PT Comexindo Usaha Mandiri, which was only permitted to survey the area from 2009.
Illegal salvaging is punishable by up to five years in prison and Rp 50 million ($5,500) in fines.

Additional reporting by AFP

Bangkok Post - Treasures of the deep gain protection

Divers taught to preserve secrets in old shipwrecks

About 18 metres below the sea off Rayong province, 15 divers from seven countries are exploring a wooden shipwreck.

The exploration is part of Unesco's six-week training on underwater cultural heritage preservation.

The divers are from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

They have been picked for an underwater heritage protection programme organised by the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) and the Fine Arts Department's Underwater Archaeology Division (UAD) which runs from Oct 26 to Dec 6.

A participant in the six-week training on underwater cultural heritage preservation shows a piece of ancient artifact found at an underwater archaeological site in Rayong.

PHOTOCOURTESY OF UNESCO.

Division head Erbprem Vatcharangkul said Thailand has 64 underwater archaeological sites. He said all of them, especially those in shallow water, were under threat from treasure hunters.

Protection of the sites required well-trained staff and cooperation from local people, including fishermen.

Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region face similar problems which prompted Unesco to set up the regional field training centre to promote underwater heritage protection in the region and to exchange conservation information.

The centre plans to hold four training courses. The course in Rayong was the first.

Trainees will be taught by experts from Australia, the Netherlands and Thailand.

"The participants will be trained in underwater archaeology protection from basic to advanced levels, both in theory and practice," Mr Erbprem said.

On the 15th day of the course, the trainees were assigned to dive to a depth of 18 metres to measure the length, width and height of a wooden shipwreck which was found two nautical miles west of Koh Mannok, off Rayong's Klaeng district.

"The boat structure and some ancient coins which were found at the site could [reveal] the age of the sunken boat which belonged to the early period of King Rama VI [early last century]," he said.

"This shipwreck is another piece of the jigsaw that will help give a clear picture of history."

The official called on fishermen to help safeguard the archaeological site by stopping their use of destructive fishing practices in the area.

He said the government should also ratify the 2001 Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage for better protection of the country's underwater heritage from commercial exploitation.

Nudy Phann, 38, deputy director-general of the General Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Cambodia, who took part in the training, said he believed his country had several underwater archaeological sites, but only one shipwreck had been discovered so far.

"No one has yet studied the shipwreck," he said. "We don't have expertise, equipment, or sufficient knowledge to explore underwater cultural heritage - that is why I am here to attend the training.

"Underwater cultural heritage is new for my country even though we ratified the convention in 2007.

"I am happy to be here and when I go back to my country I plan to set up a team to start surveying shipwrecks."

Thai trainee Duangpond Kanya Singhasanee, 29, a graduate student from Silpakorn University's historical archaeology faculty, said the training was extraordinary because participants were allowed to visit sites which were normally hard to reach.

Ms Duangpond is a diving master and had visited several archaeological sites.

"This training has inspired me to work in the field of underwater archaeology," she said.

23/11/2009 | Lamphai Intathep