A 9th-century Arab or Indian shipwreck in Indonesian waters

The article describes in some detail the structural features of a 9th-century shipwreck that was recently found in Indonesian waters. The principle features of the wreck include planks joined by stitching with wadding inboard and outboard of the hull, a sharp bow with little rake, stitched-in frames, through-beams stitched to the hull, removable ceiling planks, a keelson and stringers, and a composite iron and wood anchor. These characteristics are shown to be those of ancient Arab and Indian vessels. Identification of several timber species confirms that the ship was constructed in the western Indian Ocean region. The cargo provides strong evidence for China as the place of lading. Copyright 2000 The Nautical Archaeology Society