In global history, only a few archaeological discoveries have directly shifted the dominant narrative about the map of ancient global trade routes. However, what was found on the seabed off the coast of Belitung Island, Indonesia, in 1998 is one of the rare exceptions: Southeast Asia was not just a crossroads, but a strategic hub in the 9th-century international trade network.
The discovery began when an Indonesian traditional diver descended to a depth of about 17 to 18 meters off the coast of Belitung. At the seabed, he came across unusual objects—bowls, jars, and urns made of unfamiliar materials and shapes.
Unknowingly, he had found the wreck of a 9th-century ship, now known as the Belitung Shipwreck or Tang Shipwreck, the only intact ship from that period ever found in the world.
An Archaeological Find that Changed the Narrative
The shipwreck carried over 60,000 artifacts, most of which were distinctive Changsha ceramics from the Tang Dynasty, making it the largest collection of Tang Dynasty (618-907) artifacts ever found in one location. For this reason, the cargo is often referred to as the “Tang Treasure.”
In an official report published by Smithsonian Magazine, these artifacts were described as: "Not only was the Belitung wreck the oldest Arab vessel discovered in Asian waters, but it also contained the largest group of Tang dynasty artifacts ever found."
The ship did not only carry ceramics; it also contained bronze mirrors, jugs, star anise (spices), and possibly Chinese silk, along with other organic materials that did not survive the sea conditions.
According to several scientific sources, the ceramics were produced in China and intended for the Abbasid Caliphate market (which now covers modern-day Iraq and Iran). This provides strong evidence that Southeast Asia was at the heart of the Maritime Silk Road, connecting the great civilizations of the time.
A Ship from Distant Lands
One of the most intriguing aspects of this ship is its origins and the unique construction techniques used. The 15.3-meter-long ship is believed to have come from the Middle East or Africa, not China. Analysis reveals that the primary wood used in its construction came from Africa, and its hull was stitched together using coconut fiber ropes, without the use of nails—a characteristic of ancient Arab sailing vessels.
Additionally, there were signs of repairs made with materials from India and Southeast Asia, indicating that this ship had undergone a long journey across continents.
However, the mystery remains as to why the ship sank far off the main trade routes. The strongest speculation suggests that the ship was making a stopover for trade in Sumatra before it struck a reef and sank with its cargo in the waters off Belitung.
A Cultural Legacy Now Displayed for the World
According to Dr. Michael Flecker’s report in the journal “A Ninth-Century Arab or Indian Shipwreck in Indonesia” (2001), the location coordinates of the discovery were sold by the diver to a German company, Seabed Explorations GBR, which held an official license from the Indonesian Government to conduct surveys and excavations.
After the excavation by the Seabed Explorations team, the artifacts from the ship were purchased by the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM) in Singapore in 2005 for approximately US$32 million.
This museum is now the only place in the world that permanently displays the complete collection from this discovery in the Tang Shipwreck Gallery at ACM.
