• Last post of the year - looking back in the year that was archaeology in Southeast Asia in 2022. Check out the full post here: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/12/16/southeast-asian-archaeology-2022-year-in-review/

And see you in the new year! Best wishes to all for the holiday season!

#southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology2022 #recap
  • Last month I was at the Si Thep Historical Park in Phetchabun province - a less-known archaeological site, but an impressive one considering the ancient town has remnants dating from prehistoric times until the 13th century CE. Khao Klang Nok is a massive Buddhist stupa dating to the 8th or 9th centuries CE, located outside of the ancient town of Si Thep. I was able to get som cool shots from my drone, check out my post here: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/12/15/drone-flight-over-khao-klang-nok-si-thep-historical-park/

#khaoklangnok #sithephistoricalpark #phetchabun #drone #dronestagram #dvaravati #khmer #thaiarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasia #อุทยานประวัติศาสตร์ศรีเทพ #เพชรบูรณ์ #archaeology
  • Extended edit from Khao Klang Nok in Si Thep Historical Park, very grateful for the permission to take some shots for the @seameospafa post-#ippa2022 excursion.
  • Ending the second day of the @seameospafa #ippa2022 post-conference excursion on a high note - literally. Khao Klang Nok at the Si Thep Historical Park #southeastasianarchaeology #sithephistoricalpark #khaoklangnok
  • Terracotta elephant statue from the pre-Thang Long period, approximately 8-10th century. On display at the museum under the National Assembly Building in Hanoi. #vietnamarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #vietnam #hanoi #thanglong #terracotta #elephant #ceramics #ancientart
  • Earlier this week there was a news article about a Thai archaeologist’s attempt to repatriate a statue that was reportedly looted from Buriram province and now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/07/08/thai-archaeologist-on-mission-to-reclaim-ancient-khmer-sculpture-from-us/

This is the so-called Golden Boy, taken at the Met last December. The label calls it a Standing Shiva(?) and attributes it to the Cambodia, Siem Reap origin but it may be in fact a representation of Jayavarman Vi. You can see the museum info here: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39097?ft=khmer&offset=0&rpp=40&pos=3

#khmer #sculpture #looting #antiquitiestrade #themet #metropolitanmuseumofart #khmerarchaeology #thaiarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #southeastasia #museums #repatriation #angkor #cambodia #thailand #buriram
  • What’s in your field kit? Here’s what’s in mine: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/2022/07/04/whats-in-my-archaeology-field-kit-june-2022/ #fieldwork #fieldgear #camera #drone #archaeology #photography #videography
  • Last month I received the latest publication from the Getty Conservation Institute entitled Networking for Rock Art, focusing on public engagement. I have a small contribution very aptly named “Leave a Like and Subscribe” 😅 You can download a copy here: https://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/pdf_publications/networking_for_rock_art.html#:~:text=Networking%20for%20Rock%20Art&text=This%20volume%20by%20the%20Rock,are%20addressed%20through%20local%20action. #rockart #publicarchaeology #communityarchaeology #southeastasianarchaeology #freebook #book #gettyconservationinstitute
  • A cocktail is an unlikely candidate for an archaeology-based feed, but it turns out that the iconic Singapore Sling of the Long Bar at @raffleshotelsingapore  was a favourite of Dutch prehistorian van Stein Callenfels. No doubt, lithics work makes one thirsty. #singaporesling #rafffleshotel #longbar #indonesianarchaeology #malaysianarchaeology #singaporearchaeology #pietervansteincallenfels #southeastasianarchaeology #travelsingapore #visitsingapore #singaporetourism #singapore #cocktails
.
.
For those who haven’t tried it, the Singapore Sling is essentially a boozy fruit punch. It was also designed for the ladies but I guess that didn’t stop Ivan the Terrible!
  • After several false starts due to the year-end supply chain disruptions I finally got my hands on my colouring book! Link in Bio. Some of my earlier drawings are cruder than the later ones but overall happy with the final product. Thanks everyone who supported this book! If you bought a copy, it would help greatly if you left a review on Amazon. Some of my Buy Me a Coffee members will be getting a copy soon :) #southeastasianarchaeology #coloringbook #weekendproject #patronreward
Friday, January 27, 2023
SEAArch - Southeast Asian Archaeology
  • ResourcesStart here
  • Countries
    • Southeast Asia
    • Mainland Southeast Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Island Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Timor Leste
    • Peripheral Southeast Asia
  • Topics
    • Artifact Type
      • Architecture
      • Bones and Burials
      • Ceramics
      • Intangible Cultural Heritage
      • Lithics
      • Megaliths
      • Rock Art
      • Sculpture
    • Field
      • Anthropology
      • Bioarchaeology
      • Epigraphy
      • General Archaeology
      • Metallurgy and Metalworking
      • Paleontology
      • Underwater Archaeology
      • Visual Art
      • Zooarchaeology
    • Other Themes
      • Animism
      • Buddhism
      • Christianity
      • Disaster Risk Management
      • Hinduism
      • Islam
      • Archaeological Tourism in Southeast Asia
  • Research
    • Online Lecture Library
    • Journals and Papers
    • Data Repositories and References
    • Archaeological Projects in Southeast Asia
    • Libraries
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Laws and Legislation
    • Archaeology Education in Southeast Asia
    • Digital Tools and Software
  • Visit
    • Virtual Archaeology
    • Exhibitions
    • Museums
    • Unesco World Heritage
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • About
    • Supporters
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
SEAArch - Southeast Asian Archaeology
  • ResourcesStart here
  • Countries
    • Southeast Asia
    • Mainland Southeast Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Island Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Timor Leste
    • Peripheral Southeast Asia
  • Topics
    • Artifact Type
      • Architecture
      • Bones and Burials
      • Ceramics
      • Intangible Cultural Heritage
      • Lithics
      • Megaliths
      • Rock Art
      • Sculpture
    • Field
      • Anthropology
      • Bioarchaeology
      • Epigraphy
      • General Archaeology
      • Metallurgy and Metalworking
      • Paleontology
      • Underwater Archaeology
      • Visual Art
      • Zooarchaeology
    • Other Themes
      • Animism
      • Buddhism
      • Christianity
      • Disaster Risk Management
      • Hinduism
      • Islam
      • Archaeological Tourism in Southeast Asia
  • Research
    • Online Lecture Library
    • Journals and Papers
    • Data Repositories and References
    • Archaeological Projects in Southeast Asia
    • Libraries
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Laws and Legislation
    • Archaeology Education in Southeast Asia
    • Digital Tools and Software
  • Visit
    • Virtual Archaeology
    • Exhibitions
    • Museums
    • Unesco World Heritage
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • About
    • Supporters
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
SEAArch - Southeast Asian Archaeology
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

Archaeology of the Philippines

NHCP opens Museum of Philippine Maritime History in Iloilo City

January 24, 2023
0
10

...

Source: Free Malaysia Today, 20230111

Another heritage building torn down in Penang

January 24, 2023
0
28

...

St Anne's Church and the Cherok Tok Kun inscription

Penang’s Magnificent Seven

January 12, 2023
0
15

...

Source: Jakarta Post 20230104

The Jakarta Maritime Museum highlights the struggles of Indonesian seafaring tribes

January 10, 2023
0
12

...

Popular This Week

  • Negritos or Malays: Who are the original inhabitants of the Philippines?

    2 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 0
  • Museum head alleged to have embezzled ticket sale revenue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Another heritage building torn down in Penang

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Rebutting the myth that Malays have the second oldest genes in the world

    25 shares
    Share 25 Tweet 0
  • Ancient martial art that spawned Muay Thai undergoes a rebirth in Cambodia thanks to a tireless grandmaster

    58 shares
    Share 58 Tweet 0
Buy me a coffeeBuy me a coffee

If you found this site useful, you can help support it by buying me a coffee!

Home » Malaysia » Aboard the Jewel of Muscat

Aboard the Jewel of Muscat

June 16, 2010
in Malaysia, Peripheral Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia
Tags: Belitung shipwreckGeorge Town (city)Jewel of Muscatmaritime trade and communicationPenang (state)Tom Vosmer (person)underwater cultural heritagevideowatercraft (boats/ships/etc.)
0
SHARES
358
VIEWS
Aboard the Jewel of Muscat

The Jewel of Muscat is in Georgetown for its last stopover before heading for her final destination, Singapore! Today, I got a chance to go aboard the Jewel of Muscat and talk to project director Dr. Tom Vosmer to get an idea of the inner workings of this replica of a 9th century Arab ship and the journey from Oman thus far.
Jewel of Muscat
The Jewel called to port about a week and a half ago, and the crew is enjoying a well-deserved rest after a harrowing run from Sri Lanka. Besides taking a well-deserved break, they’re also making some repairs to the ship before embarking for Singapore at the end of the week. Dr Tom Vosmer, a marine archaeologist and project director for the Jewel of Muscat project met me at the ship to give us an introduction to the ship:

The Jewel of Muscat at Tanjong Marina in Georgetown, Penang
The Jewel of Muscat at Tanjong Marina in Georgetown, Penang
The stern of the Jewel of Muscat. This section of the ship was less reliably accurate because the original shipwreck was too encrusted with coral to be examined. Based on artwork of the period, they built a two-rudder system common for the time
The stern of the Jewel of Muscat. This section of the ship was less reliably accurate because the original shipwreck was too encrusted with coral to be examined. Based on artwork of the period, they built a two-rudder system common for the time
The Jewel was reconstructed using traditional methods, and the boat was literally sewn together with timber and hand-made rope.
The Jewel was reconstructed using traditional methods, and the boat was literally sewn together with timber and hand-made rope.
The crew also used a tool called the Kamal, a block of wood on a string to keep track of the height of stars. But the ship also carried a full suite of modern tools, such as a radar, GPS, weather monitoring equipment and an on-board camera (pictured).
The crew also used a tool called the Kamal, a block of wood on a string to keep track of the height of stars. But the ship also carried a full suite of modern tools, such as a radar, GPS, weather monitoring equipment and an on-board camera (pictured).

The Jewel of Muscat was surprisingly small – only 18 metres long – but I was surprised to hear that it had a cargo capacity of 25 tons, which in turn hints at the volume of trade that must have taken place during this period over such great distances. We also got to hear from Dr. Vosmer about life aboard the ship and gain an idea of how the crew lived and operated on a day-to-day basis.

The interior deck of the Jewel. The original Belitung shipwreck did not have a deck, and this feature was added for the ship.

The crew carved the prayer 'Allah Akbar'; ('God is Great') along one of the mast's crossbeams.
The crew carved the prayer ‘Allah Akbar’; (‘God is Great’) along one of the mast’s crossbeams.
The cargo hold underneath the deck in the video, that smells like rotten eggs.
The cargo hold underneath the deck in the video, that smells like rotten eggs.
Unfortunately, the hold also contains some of the sleeping quarters!
Unfortunately, the hold also contains some of the sleeping quarters!
Ever wondered where the toilet was on board the ship? There are two basket compartments at the ship's stern, near the rudder where crew members can relieve themselves. No, I didn't try it. But now you know!
Ever wondered where the toilet was on board the ship? There are two basket compartments at the ship’s stern, near the rudder where crew members can relieve themselves. No, I didn’t try it. But now you know!

It was a real treat to step aboard a pretty accurate reconstruction of a 9th century trading vessel – I suspect once the ship becomes a museum piece in Singapore there won’t be any more opportunities to do so! After the ship lands in Singapore, the data collected about the ship’s behaviour will enhance our understanding of the trade between China and Arabia from a technical standpoint, but I also hope to hear from the sailors their insight about what it means to be trader sailing the seven seas and the kind of mettle required to undertake such a journey.

The Jewel of Muscat sets sail again on June 18 to Singapore, where it will reside as a gift from the Sultanate of Oman to the island republic. You can learn more about the Jewel and its progress in the official website, www.jewelofmuscat.tv

If you have access, more information about the Belitung shipwreck can be found in Michael Flecker’s A Ninth-Century AD Arab or Indian Shipwreck in Indonesia: First Evidence for Direct Trade with China in World Archaeology (2001), vol 32, no. 3.

Special thanks to Dr. Tom Vosmer, Kat of Oman Sail and Chan Jee Kei of Opal Asia for facilitating access to the Jewel of Muscat.

Subscribe for Southeast Asian Archaeology news updates

Latest Books

The following are affiliate links for which I may earn a commission if you click and make a purchase. Click here for more books about Southeast Asian archaeology.
Sale The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in Mediaeval Maritime Asia, volume 2
The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in...
$66.91
Buy on Amazon
Sale Decoding Southeast Asian Art: Studies in Honor of Piriya Krairiksh
Decoding Southeast Asian Art: Studies in Honor of...
$47.40
Buy on Amazon
Belitung: The Afterlives of a Shipwreck
Belitung: The Afterlives of a Shipwreck
$64.60
Buy on Amazon
Global Lives of Objects: Celebrating 100 Years of the National Museum of Asian Art
Global Lives of Objects: Celebrating 100 Years of...
$34.95
Buy on Amazon
The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in Mediaeval Maritime Asia, volume 1
The Creative South: Buddhist and Hindu Art in...
$60.00
Buy on Amazon
Museums, Collections and Social Repair in Vietnam (Routledge Research on Museums and Heritage in Asia)
Museums, Collections and Social Repair in Vietnam...
$13.77
Buy on Amazon

Last update on 2023-01-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API


Comments 1

  1. Alison says:
    13 years ago

    This is SO COOL! Thanks for sharing. And I was wondering about the bathroom too, thanks for filling us in 😉

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

SEAArch - Southeast Asian Archaeology

© 2019

Navigate Site

  • Resources
  • Countries
  • Topics
  • Research
  • Visit
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe
  • About

Follow

No Result
View All Result
  • Resources
  • Countries
    • Southeast Asia
    • Mainland Southeast Asia
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Island Southeast Asia
      • Brunei
      • Indonesia
      • Malaysia
      • Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Timor Leste
    • Peripheral Southeast Asia
  • Topics
    • Artifact Type
      • Architecture
      • Bones and Burials
      • Ceramics
      • Intangible Cultural Heritage
      • Lithics
      • Megaliths
      • Rock Art
      • Sculpture
    • Field
      • Anthropology
      • Bioarchaeology
      • Epigraphy
      • General Archaeology
      • Metallurgy and Metalworking
      • Paleontology
      • Underwater Archaeology
      • Visual Art
      • Zooarchaeology
    • Other Themes
      • Animism
      • Buddhism
      • Christianity
      • Disaster Risk Management
      • Hinduism
      • Islam
      • Archaeological Tourism in Southeast Asia
  • Research
    • Online Lecture Library
    • Journals and Papers
    • Data Repositories and References
    • Archaeological Projects in Southeast Asia
    • Libraries
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Laws and Legislation
    • Archaeology Education in Southeast Asia
    • Digital Tools and Software
  • Visit
    • Virtual Archaeology
    • Exhibitions
    • Museums
    • Unesco World Heritage
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • About
    • Supporters
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2019

Want more Southeast Asian Archaeology?
News in your inbox, twice a week

  • Also s

 


×
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.