What happened to the Brunei Shipwreck?

If you remember, one of the most interesting discovery in recent times in Brunei was the Chinese junk wreck which sank some 40 kilometers off the shores of Brunei. This 1997 discovery of what is now known as the Brunei Shipwreck is probably one of the most important in Brunei's archaeological history. Some 13,000 artefacts recovered originated from Thailand, Vietnam and China showed just how successful and flourishing was the Brunei trade with the region some 500 years ago. The Brunei harbor was once one of the most active in the South China Sea, strategically located not far from the thriving commercial markets of Thailand, Vietnam and China.

The shipwreck was discovered by Elf Petroleum (now TotalFinaElf) on 24th May 1997 but excavations only started from May to August 1998 which brings more than 130 specialists from around the world. Most artefacts recovered and dated from late 15th to early 16th Century CE (Common Era). If you remember, this excavation work was shown on the Discovery Channel from time to time.

According to experts, the Brunei junk sank about 50 years after the great Chinese explorer, Zheng He's expedition. China at that time was isolating itself and had banned all forms of seafaring trade. So most foreign merchants had to come and deal directly with China. Most foreigners come bearing tributes to the Chinese Emperor and trade in China. For Chinese traders, they had to smuggle if they want to export anything. The smuggling was quite prosperous as the Emperor had to keep issuing edicts against it every few years.

One of the most prized items recovered was the Chinese blue and white porcelain which was said to be so desirable and completely different from other ceramics. When you hit it, it made a bell-like sound which the people then considered as a magical sound. But to be ble to afford such luxuries, Bruneians then have to export our rich natural resources then such as wood, turtle shells, gold and camphor.

The sinking of the junk then was almost towards the end of the Asian era. By 1511, the first Portuguese ships arrived thus ending the time when only Asians rule the Asian waters and in some sense marked the beginning of the end of the then Brunei Empire.

The only problem with this story is we seemed to have lost track of what is surely the greatest recovery in Brunei's archaeological history. I am not sure how many of us remember it anymore. I only have one book entitled "Sunken Treasures of Brunei Darussalam" printed in 2003 especially for the Australian tour of the Sunken Treasures in Sydney, Canberra and Fremantle and nothing else. I know there is another book entitled "The Brunei Shipwreck" produced by Elf (illustrated cover). I don't have that one. Other than an exhibit in the Museum, nothing seemed to have come out of this great recovery - not even a peep from the Tourism people. Have we forgotten about it? Are we not marketing this? Strange. Or am I imagining things?