Exhibition of sunken treasure
Exhibition of sunken treasure
By Junus Satrio Atmodjo
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of years ago, when the relationship between humans and their hegemony over technology was still simple, the inhabitants of the Nusantara archipelago interacted commercially with each other using all means available.
At that time, commerce perhaps was what we now know as bartering, a continuation of social contacts between two or more groups of people.
Bartering that started out on a small scale, gradually became more complex with the involvement of more groups of people living far from each other. In line with the development of shipping technology around two thousand years ago, cross-oceanic commerce developed, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Traditional sailing routes brought bronze drums from South China and Vietnam to the easternmost Indonesian island, Irian Jaya, around the beginning of the first millennium.
The entrance of foreigners to the region further animated commerce around the Nusantara archipelago. Underwater treasures started to fall into the sea and rivers as a result of accidents caused by typhoons, tsunamis, collisions with coral and rocks, unseaworthy ships or piracy. Some ships were even sunk because of unhealthy competition.
Today these underwater treasures have once again become a center of attention because of their economic value. They are now decorative items in homes, hotels and offices.
Indonesian museums only possess a few samples -- most are in the hands of art lovers, collectors of curiosities or on the shelves of antique shops.
The owners of these goods perhaps do not even know the stories behind them. In fact, the treasures are treasures not only because of their exotic appearance or their economic value; they are treasures because they contain historical stories and values.
The Exposition of the Discovery of Underwater Treasures is currently being held at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta until 24 July 2000. The exhibition's prime attractions are examples of ceramics that are still in pristine condition.
Although most are trade ware, many are Ming and there are also some with unique designs.
The best intact pieces are in the middle of the hall, surrounded by thousands of shards that provide grim evidence of mishandling. The tools, including diving gear and so forth, that were used in the unearthing of the underwater treasures are also exhibited.
Most of the exhibits are from the Gelasa Strait (between Bangka and Belitung islands) where many underwater treasures have been discovered. The site lies under an important historical trade route in Southeast Asia.
The exhibition includes very informative maps that help place the material shown in its proper context.
It also shows the history of maritime trade around the archipelago, highlighting the variety of the tools of trade that were used. A diverse range of coins, from Europe, the Middle East, India, China and locally were found among the shipwrecks and are also on show.
Fragments of a ship excavated from a river in Jambi were brought to Jakarta to provide a clear and comprehensive picture of the scope of underwater treasures that are available.
The exhibition is an attempt to introduce to the public the wide range of concerns surrounding underwater treasures. It is meant to offer a balance between economics and history, to touch the hearts of those visiting it and to help preserve the treasures for the sake of our future.
The writer is an archaeologist at the Directorate General for Culture, the Ministry of National Education.