Ship Wrecks:

Lost at Sea - Lena Shoal Junk

The archaeological excavation of the Lena Shoal Junk was conducted in close collaboration with the National Museum of the Philippines and with generous support from the HILTI foundation.Foreword:The discovery of a wreck north-east of the Philippine island of Palawan in February 1997 is testimony to the interconnection of the earlier cultures and of the trading relationship between Filipinos and the peoples of other regions in South-East Asia.Committed to protecting and preserving the material culture of the past through its underwater archaeology section, the National Museum of the Philippines collaborated with the Far Eastern Foundation for Nautical Archaeology (FEFNA) headed by Franck Goddio to salvage the wreck. The archaeological excavation, undertaken at a depth of 48-50 metres below the surface, brought to light remnants of a Chinese trading vessel and an array of magnificent artefacts that are solid evidence of a flourishing maritime trade around the turn of the sixteenth century.The Lena Shoal Junk carried with it a valuable cargo from China, Siam and Annam, some of which would have been destined for the distant ports of Hormuz and Aden, while some would have been bartered for exotic products in the Moslem sultanates of the Philippines, Borneo or the Moluccas.High quality ceramics such as blue and white wares, ewers, boxes and inkstands, and other merchandise such as iron and tin ingots, copper utensils and cooking pots comprise some of the more than 3,000 artefacts retrieved from the site.The Lena Shoal wreck with all the information contained therein is an affirmation of the presence of a civilized Filipino society that participated actively in maritime trade, long before Spaniards set foot in the archipelago. It attests to an ancient culture of which contemporary Filipinos can be proud.Gabriel S. CasalDirector of the National Museum of the PhilippinesSize: 345 x 245 x 22mmContent: 288 Pages - Text and Photos.

From: Periplus

Click Here for details