Vung Tau Wreck | Maritimeexplorations

Vung Tau Wreck

(c.1690)

Background

The Vung Tau Wreck was discovered by fishermen off the islands of Con Dao in the south of Vietnam. Sverker Hallstrom obtained the license to excavate the wreck after the Vietnam Salvage Corporation (Visal) had carried out preliminary excavation. Dr Flecker directed the primary excavation for Hallstrom in 1991.

The starboard side of the hull, from the keel to the waterline, remained in good condition. It was found to be the hull of a lorcha, a ship of combined Eastern and Western influence, and the first and only ever found. The wreck has been dated to c.1690. From an analysis of the cargo it seems that the ship was bound from China to Batavia where the bulk of the ceramics would have been transshipped to a Dutch East India Company (VOC) vessel for the onward voyage to Holland.

Spread

Operations were conducted from the 61 m long, 4,800 BHP supply boat, Dai Lanh. Twenty Vietnamese divers worked with KMB masks using surface decompression on oxygen to maximise bottom times. Dr Flecker designed a high pressure diesel pump and delivery system to supply the water dredges, which had previously been used on the Concepcion excavation.

Recovered Cargo

The recovered cargo consisted of over 48,000 ceramics, mostly Kangxi blue-and-white porcelain from the kilns of Jingdezhen, and an impressive collection of white-ware. There were also many pieces of provincial ware, and a wide variety of non-ceramic artefacts ranging from ship's gear to personal possessions.

Cargo Disposition

Christie's selected 28,000 pieces of porcelain for auction in Amsterdam. The return surpassed all expectations at US$7.3 million. A fully representative sample of ceramics and most artefacts were put on display in the Vung Tau Museum.

More Details

· The Vung Tau Wreck is located off the Con Dao island group, near the southern tip of Vietnam. She lies in 34 m of clear water, on a sandy seabed.

· Having a substantial keel, the wreck came to rest on the seabed at an angle. Over the years the high side collapsed and was eaten away, while the low side was protected by sediments and the cargo. Consequently, only one half of the lower hull has survived.

· It is the hull of a lorcha, a hybrid vessel combining Chinese and European construction techniques, and the first and only such vessel ever found.

· The cargo comprised a magnificent array of Jingdezhen export porcelain. It seems to have been ordered with interior decoration in mind, with garnitures of jars and vases accounting for a large proportion of the consignment.

· Non-ceramic artefacts included inkstones, ink sticks, personal seals, die, padlocks, woks, cauldrons, tweezers, combs, and even some silk survived.

· The porcelain was destined for a port where it would have been transhipped onto a VOC vessel for the onward voyage to Holland. The other goods were to supply the Chinese community at the same port. That port was Batavia.

Publications

1. Excavation of an Oriental Vessel of c.1690 off Con Dao, Vietnam, Flecker, M., International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, Volume 21(3), 1992.

2. Porcelain from the Vung Tau Wreck: the Hallstrom Excavation, Jörg, C., Flecker, M., Sun Tree Publishing Ltd., UK, 2001.

3. The Vung Tau Cargo, Christie's, Auction Catalogue, 1992.