Ancient Shipwrecks

The marine archaeological survey and assessment of part of the Bangka – Belitung province,
in the Republic of Indonesia, took place over five seasons between 2007 and 2011. In total,
25 historical wrecks of various nationalities, spanning from the 9th to the 19th centuries were
found, surveyed, assessed and recommendations for possible future interventions were given.
During the survey and assessment of the wreck sites found in the Bangka-Belitung provincial
waters, we were able to collect archaeological evidence showing that from a total of 25
historical wreck sites, only one seems to be relatively undisturbed. This means that an
overwhelming 96% of the wreck sites discovered had already been destroyed. This survey
therefore made it clear that coherent action is urgently required to find, register and study
what is left of that heritage if we want to act responsibly towards our future generations.

For the third year, Perpignan University and the Center of Research on Societies and Environments in Mediterranean Contexts (CRESEM E.A.7397), in connection with the courses in « Archaeology and Protection of Maritime Heritage », as part of the MA training in History, Civilizations, Heritages of Perpignan University, carry out an International Workshop about Maritime Archaeology, in order to set up an International Conference in 2020.

Stabies Harbour, frescoe, 1st c. CE.
Scientific goals :
« When Hiero heard that, of all the harbors it was to call at, some would not accomodate the ship [the Syracusia] at all and others were risky, he decided to send it as a gift to King Ptolemy in Alexandria. » (Athenaeus 5.209b, trans. L. Casson).
At first sight, it might seem puzzling to read that Hiero built such a large superfreighter that she could not enter most harbours.
However, the depth of the harbours has always been a crucial problem for ship captains, as well as the draft of the ships for the harbour authorities. As it is located in the junction of two research fields, this issue has long been overlooked. For decades, ship archaeologists did not include harbours as a crucial parameter, as if the boat was a self-sufficient floatting object on the waters, just like harbour archaeologists did not consider that ships should be taken into account, as if harbours could exist without boats. The past decade has shown several studies which insist upon the close relationships between ships and harbours (Boetto 2008, Corré 2009, Nantet 2010, 2016).
Therefore, the assessment of this issue requires at first an attentive examination of the problem. How crucial was it for the captains and harbour authorities? Did the ancient, medieval and early modern boats and harbours have to face this issue in the same way? What sources may evidence this problem?
Then, it will be necessary to bring measurements in order to provide a concrete evaluation of the problem. What was the depth of the harbours? How can it be assessed? As for the draft of the ships, what was it? How can it be measured?
Eventually, the workshop will focus on the solutions to that problem. What could the harbour authorities perform in order to maintain the depth? First, they edicted regulations so that waste produced by the harbour activities shall not deposit and fill the bottom. Which authorities could these activities revert to? Can sources evidence how these regulations were followed? The harbour authorities could also use dredge boats in order to remove the waste from the bottom. How did these techniques work? How efficient were they? How much did they cost?

The Schimmelmann, a Danish East Indiaman, was reported lost on 24th of April 1781, off the Islands of Cape Verde and rescue recovered by Arqueonautas in 1999.
This vessel was a 1400-ton Danish East Indiaman, under the command of Earl Ernest Schimmelmann, believed to be outward bound from Denmark to China, with a cargo of 114 iron guns and Swedish plate money. The Schimmelmann was one of the largest ships afloat. The crew was saved. Many timbers and fittings were removed and sold to Fr. Francisco, Bishop of Cape Verde, for use in the construction of a new church on Maio.

The archaeological excavation and subsequent study of the copper Plate Money from the “Grev Ernst Schimmelmann” wreck is the result of the combined effort of a large group of specialists. Working in the Cape Verde Archipelago, with a multinational team and carrying out research on artefacts which were unknown at that time to most of us, posed quite peculiar hurdles to overcome. Although this publication wouldn’t exist without their hard work, mentioning them all here would be impossible.

The shipwreck code-named IDM-003 was found in Cabeceira reef, Ilha de Moçambique, in the Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique, in 2001 during a systematic archaeological survey of the area. It has been tentatively identified as the Nossa Senhora da Consolação, a Portuguese Indiaman, lost at this location on July, 1608 during the Dutch siege to the island. The archaeological excavation of this wreck provided a collection of artefacts from the late 16 th and the early 17 th centuries giving us a glimpse of life on board those ships. A part of the wood structure survived allowing for the study of 16 th century Portuguese naval architecture. The evidence suggests that IDM-003 was a typical Portuguese Indiaman, similar to those described in Portuguese 16 th century ship treaties, with a keel of around 27.7 m and an overall length of nearly 40 m.

By the end of the 18th century, Nossa Senhora de Madre de Deus
was one of the largest and most impressive man-of-war from the
Portuguese Navy fleet.
For two years she did several trading voyages to India until tragically
she was lost on the Mozambique coast in 1802.
During the 2007 season the Arqueonautas team carried out survey
operations in the Mogincual reef. Following some leads given by local
fishermen the wreck site code named MOG-001 was found during a
systematic non-intrusive survey.

The shipwreck codenamed MOG-003 was found in Infusse reef, Mogincual, in the Province of Nampula, Republic of Mozambique, in 2004 during a magnetometer survey of the area. It has been tentatively identified as the São José, a Portuguese Indiaman vice-flagship (Almiranta) from the 1622 fleet en route from Lisbon to Goa, India, lost at this location on the 24th of July of 1622 during a battle against the Anglo-Dutch fleet. The archaeological excavation of this wreck provided a collection of artefacts from the late 16th and the early 17th centuries which allowed the study of the numismatic and artillery aspects of that time. The evidence confirms that the São José was carrying Spanish reales minted in the Americas and Spain, belonging to the Portuguese crown.

During the 2007 survey on the Baginda and Belvedere reefs the following wreck sites
- BST-001 Bangka Strait Concentration of late Ming Chinese porcelain
- GAS-001 Baginda reef  scarce ceramic evidence
- GAS-002 Tanjung Labu Scattering of storage jars and coarseware “Kendis”
- GAS-003 Belvedere reef Concentration of ceramic fragments (coarseware and celadon)GAS-004 South of Gelasa Late European wreck (Ballast, wood structure, ceramic and glass)
- GAS-005 Tanjung Labu Early wreck site (several artefacts of utilitarian ceramic)
- GAS-006 Belvedere reef (Tumulus of mostly broken ceramic, apparently out of archaeological context)
- GAS-007 North Pulau Liat Late shipwreck, possibly second half of XIX century.
- BEL-002 North of Belitung The scarce information points earlier than XVII century.
- BEL-003 Buding, North of Belitung Mid XIX century ship (wood structure remains and scarce ceramic fragments)

Objectives to carry out extensive electronic surveys over areas with a high probability of wreck material around Ilha de Mocambique, including the Banco do Sul, the Banco de San Lourenco, the Banco do Norte and areas around the island of Goa. The primary objective being locate and map for investigation any magnetic anomalies.

In a survey and reconnaissance operation, Jan 2009 to Nov 2009 and May 2010 to Oct 2010, in direct cooperation with BUDPAR, the marine archaeological department of the Indonesien Ministry for Education and Culture, the following wreck sites were discovered and documented:
Bangka Strait BST-001 Reported Ming ceramics
Mampango Reef BEL-005 Ship structure and ballast
Mampango Reef BEL-006 Ship structure and anchor
Southeast of Belitung GAS-018 XIX century European wreck
South of Baguinda Reef GAS-014 Reported Yuang ceramics
South of Belitung GAS-013 Reported Sung ceramics
South of Belitung GAS-012 Reported possible VOC
East of Belitung BEL-004 Reported wreck, 3 cannons
Northeast of Pulau Liat GAS-015 Reported wreck with charcoal
Northwest of Pulau Liat GAS-016 Reported wreck with charcoal
Northwest of Pulau Liat GAS-017 Reported wreck with charcoal

The following operations were conducted:
MOG-003 (possibly Almiranta São Jose, 1622):
- Excavation status (approx) 20%
IDM-003 (possibly Nossa Senhora da Consolação, 1608):
- Excavation status (approx) 40%
IDM-017 (possibly Capitana Santa Teresa, 1622):
- Reconnaissance

Survey and Reconnaissance Operations from 08/09/2003 to 08/12/2004 produced the following results:
Silva shoal New wreck found ANG-005
Moma island New wreck found ANG-002
Caldeira island New wreck found ANG-003
Mafamede island New wreck found ANG-001
Santo Antonio shoal New wreck found ANG-004
Infusse shoal New wreck found MOG-002
Ilha de Moçambique New wreck found IDM-011
Crusse island New wreck found NAC-001
Cabeceira Pequena New wreck found IDM-012
Cabeceira Pequena New wreck found IDM-013
South edge of the Channel New wreck found IDM-014
Leven bank New wreck found IDM-015
South edge of the Channel New wreck found IDM-016
Nivula Shoal New wreck found IDM-017
Cabeceira Pequena Reef New wreck found IDM-018
Infusse shoal New wreck found MOG-003
Quissimajulo New wreck found NAC-002
Pinda bank New wreck found NAC-003
Pinda bank New wreck found NAC-004
Pinda bank New wreck found NAC-005
Pinda bank New wreck found NAC-006
Pinda bank New wreck found NAC-007
Vadiazi Reef New wreck found CAD-001

This expedition’s aim was to conduct visual and Sidescan sonar surveys in an area where, according to locals’ information, cultural remains were submerged. If this were to be confirmed, then a reconnaissance of the site would take place in order to assess the density of artefacts and nature of the site. The late 15th century 'Hongzi' wreck site was one of the discoveries.

The San Miguel e Almas Santas of 1771, a Portuguese Patache taken at Sunda (Sunda Strait) during the conquest of Piró in 1752, was lost South of the Fernão Veloso Bay, Nacala area, Nampula Province, Mozambique on its annual journey from India.

As part of our marine archaeological project in the province of Nampula we have scheduled visits to various wreck sites discovered and assessed by our company in the past, in order to monitor their current state of conservation. This site, NAC-002 was originally found on the 13 th of October 2004, during the visual survey of Quissimajulo Bay.

Santa Teresa de Jesus (1622) / IDM-017 … The Anglo-Dutch fleet decided to chase the Santa Teresa and the São Carlos. In a merciless pursuit it followed them up to the entry to the Isle of Mozambique. There, fearing the firepower of São Sebastião fort, they decided to turn back and safely plunder the spoils of the São José.