Holistic shipwreck assemblages in 14th and 15th century Southeast Asia
The ceramic trade throughout Medieval Southeast Asia was prolific. Terrestrial sites have yielded massive amounts of ceramic material and the archaeological reports of shipwreck cargoes corroborate the versatile and extensive qualities of trade ceramics in the region. The sheer quantity of ceramic artefacts found in shipwreck assemblages, paired with a well-researched framework of the aesthetic, demonstrates that we rely heavily on ceramic data to date wrecks and establish regional trading patterns. While ceramics typically represent the bulk of the recovered material in these instances, many other types of material are present in the various assemblages. Yet these ~lesser~ materials suffer from a lack of investigation and, therefore, play virtually no role in the archaeological and historical assessment of the ship, its cargo, and its relationship to the maritime economy of the period. While ceramic studies may provide a general overview, a consideration of the other material provides subtlety and nuance to the analysis. This case study focuses on the non-ceramic assemblages for six shipwrecks from the 14th and 15th Centuries of Southeast Asia (three Chinese-built and three Southeast Asian-styled junks).
Fahy, Brian
Shipwrecks--Southeast Asia ; Underwater archaeology ; Spice trade--History ; Excavations (Archaeology)--Southeast Asia ; Southeast Asia--Commerce
Holistic shipwreck assemblages in 14th and 15th century Southeast Asia. The ceramic trade throughout Medieval Southeast Asia was prolific. Terrestrial sites have yielded massive amounts of ceramic material and the archaeological reports of shipwreck cargoes corroborate the versatile and extensive qualities of trade ceramics in the region. The sheer quantity of ceramic artefacts found in shipwreck assemblages, paired with a well-researched framework of the aesthetic, demonstrates that we rely heavily on ceramic data to date wrecks and establish regional trading patterns. While ceramics typically represent the bulk of the recovered material in these instances, many other types of material are present in the various assemblages. Yet these ~lesser~ materials suffer from a lack of investigation and, therefore, play virtually no role in the archaeological and historical assessment of the ship, its cargo, and its relationship to the maritime economy of the period. While ceramic studies may provide a general overview, a consideration of the other material provides subtlety and nuance to the analysis. This case study focuses on the non-ceramic assemblages for six shipwrecks from the 14th and 15th Centuries of Southeast Asia (three Chinese-built and three Southeast Asian-styled junks).
holistic shipwreck assemblage southeast_asia ceramic trade throughout medieval southeast_asia prolific terrestrial site yield massive amount ceramic_material archaeological_report shipwreck cargo corroborate versatile extensive quality trade ceramic region sheer quantity ceramic artefact find shipwreck assemblage pair well researched framework aesthetic demonstrate rely_heavily ceramic data date wreck establish regional trading pattern ceramic typically represent bulk recover material instance many type material present various assemblage yet lesser material suffer lack investigation therefore play virtually role archaeological_historical assessment ship cargo relationship maritime economy period ceramic_study may provide_general overview consideration material provide subtlety nuance analysis case_study focus non ceramic_assemblage shipwreck centuries southeast_asia chinese built southeast_asian