Uncovering an Ancient Maritime Civilization

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Residents listen to an explanation from archaeologists about the results of an ancient ship excavation in Lambur village, Muara Sabak Timur district, Tanjung Timur regency, Jambi, Saturday (31/8/2019). The community has been invited to participate in taking care of ancient relics found in their area.

An in-depth study into an ancient ship found in Lambur village, East Tanjung Jabung district, Jambi, could lead to the discovery of a maritime civilization in the past.

JAMBI, KOMPAS — The discovery of a ship, a settlement and pottery on the eastern coast of Jambi is the first clue to the ancient maritime ties that existed between Sumatra and the outside world. The government is encouraged to undertake a serious study into the findings to uncover the archipelago’s maritime civilization.

Senior archeologist Junus Satrio Atmodjo said it should be appreciated that the East Tanjung Jabung regency was enthusiastic about funding research into an ancient ship that was found in Lambur village. Several ancient vessels and materials made from the nibung palm had been found in the area since the 1990s. The archeological findings suggest that ancient settlements were once established on the eastern coast of Jambi.

"It is great that the local administration is willing to [fund the research project]. It is hoped that the study will uncover the condition of swampland settlements in the past," he said on Thursday (12/9/2019).

Archaeological studies have tended to focus on the area surrounding the Muaro Jambi temple, located farther inland, overlooking research into maritime cultures and their preservation.

Junus said studying maritime civilizations posed considerable challenges and required in-depth research, discussions and planning long before the study began. Each project must involve archeologists with experience in researching and preserving the sites of maritime cultures.

A second excavation of the ancient Lambur ship has been ongoing since early August. The initial excavation occurred in 1997.

Weathered

The head of the excavation team, Agus Widiatmoko, stated in a report that the excavation results showed that the vessel used mortise-and-tenon joints to fasten timber boards with wooden dowels. The frame had been secured with lashings made of palm fiber.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

A joint archaeological team from Jambi University and the University of Indonesia (UI) record the data of an ancient ship excavation in Lambur village, Muara Sabak Timur district, Tanjung Timur regency, Jambi, Saturday (31/8/2019). The team brought wood samples to the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) to gauge the age of the ship. The excavation is part of efforts to uncover the greatness of the region as the main trade route in Southeast Asia.

The report also noted that the wooden planks were in poor condition. The wooden frame of the vessel appeared to be intact, but many of the dowels had rotted and the palm-fiber ropes were broken and unraveled, likely because it was buried in highly acidic soil.

Lambur Ancient Ship Excavation project head Ali Akbar said that extreme care was needed in excavating maritime artifacts. He also confirmed that some members of the excavation team had gone aboard the vessel’s remains, but at a minimum.

He added that stepping on other artifacts was common during an excavation of ancient vessels, as had

occurred during the excavation project in Punjulharjo, Rembang regency, Central Java. However, such incidents were evaluated immediately to prevent a repeat occurrence at a later stage in the excavation.

Settlement

According to Junus, stepping on artifacts that were hundreds of years old accelerated damage. Furthermore, the artifact would be exposed to the elements, which would speed up decomposition.

Ali said that studying the ancient Lambur ship would lead to many other discoveries in the broader context of ancient maritime civilizations. Many local residents had approached the excavation team to give them artifacts they had found around their homes, including fragments from ships, earthenware pottery, ceramics and nibung palm. The artifacts were remnants of ancient settlements.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

A joint archaeological team from Jambi University and University of Indonesia carries out an ancient ship excavation in Lambur village, Muara Sabak Timur district, Tanjung Timur regency, Jambi, Saturday (31/8/2019). The team brought wood samples to the National Nuclear Energy Agency (Batan) to ascertain the age of the ship. The excavation is part of efforts to uncover the greatness of the region as the main trade route in Southeast Asia. The excavation work is expected to be completed early this month.

"There are indications that a settlement had existed [in the area]. However, its type and scale still needs thorough investigation," Ali said, urging that a joint research project be carried out to provide an archeological reconstruction of the region. (ITA)