MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR SOUTHEAST ASIAN MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY

BY WILFREDO P. RONQU1LLO

The maritime archaeological heritage of the Southeast Asian region is rich and unparalleled. The Southeast Asian territorial waters have served as the passageways for maritime trade, commerce and population movements in the region. For such a vast area the distribution of artifacts found in underwater archaeological context have been sparse and distributed widely through time but adequately delineate the area's phenomenal cultural past.

Former land archaeological sites situated in the region's continental shelves dating to the Pleistocene Period are now presently inundated by water. In more recent times numerous Southeast Asian as well as foreign boats, water vessels and other large ships which sailed the Southeast Asian seas and waterways sank and floundered in the region's waters. Hundreds of junks, sunken galleons and other trading vessels are believed to lie under Southeast Asia's territorial waters.

1 0 SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER TWO Succeeding frequent use of the propose and present management The general policies of the majority region's seas and other waterways by objectives for maritime archaeology of the member-states of Southeast the indigenous population as well as for the Southeast Asian region. Asia accommodate the active by foreign navigators and merchants Aspects of policies, depletion of the involvement of treasure-hunters in gave them a central role in the region's rich maritime cultural the region's territorial waters. development of a unique Southeast resources, development of the Asian culture and history. The role of region's capacity for maritine 1. The commercial exploitations of maritime shipping and trade archaeological research, conservation maritime archaeological sites are networks in shaping Southeast Asia's and cultural tourism and public prohibited in Thailand. A recent history and culture has been awareness, shall also be addressed. incident wherein the Royal Thai overwhelming as has been indicated Navy confiscated over 10,000 pieces by the archaeological materials of recovered Thai ceramics looted recovered from land archaeological from a shipwreck in the Gulf of sites and through historical Thailand indicates that country's will accounts (SPAFA 1884). Recent to stop the illegal looting of their cursory maritime archaeological underwater archaeological resources activities in Southeast Asia indicate the (Vatcharangkul 1992). tremendous potential of underwater archaeological materials in 2. Vietnam has not publicly revealed complementing existing archaeological ASPECTS OF POLICIES a policy on this matter. However, it evidences and augmenting historical has been reported that Vietnam is data. The lack of clearly delineated disposing of, through auction, 28,000 policies and legislations for the porcelain items found off the Lately a number of the region's preservation and protection of the southern port of Vung Tau in 1989 important underwater archaeological Southeast Asian maritime by a fisherman (Bacani 1992). sites have been plundered by archaeological resources make it treasure-hunters, commercial salvors difficult for the member-states of 3. The Philippines is presently and poachers, resulting in the Southeast Asia to adequately pursue enforcing a policy of granting unfortunate depletion of the region's a concerted course of action underwater archaeological exploration maritime archaeological resources towards the protection of these and excavation permits requiring the (Bacani 1992:20-25). important and non-renewable supervision of National Museum resources. personnel. Permit grantees are given The adequate protection and a portion of the finds. A separate preservation of these maritime The intrusion of underwater treasure- office in the Philippines grants archaeological resources has now hunters in Southeast Asian waters is permits for treasure-hunting activities, become a priority that needs to be a result, not so much by the the definition and limitations of immediately addressed if we are to implementation of strict policies in which are still subjects of controversy elucidate Southeast Asia's rich historic other parts of the world which (Ronquillo 1992:1-6). and cultural past. These submerged safeguard their underwater cultural archaeological sites and wrecks now resources, as by the present prevailing 4. Malaysia at present grants permits form part of Southeast Asia's significant conflicting policies and lack of strong in wrecksites which have "no direct archaeological and historical records legislations in the Southeast Asian significance for Malaysian history." and are important components of the region. This current situation, To ensure serious commitment on region's non-renewable maritime unfortunately, has abetted the the part of the private sectors who cultural resources. depletion of the region's maritime are issued permits to survey and archaeological resources (Gatbonton salvage historic wrecks, the company The purpose of this paper is to 1987). has to be locally registered with

SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER TWO 11 Malaysians having shares. In advances in underwater technology addition, the company has to the region's maritime archaeological submit a bond or bank guarantee resources are becoming easily amounting to 200,000 Malaysian accessible at an increasingly faster Ringgit. Only applications to survey rate which may eventually result in and salvage a specific wreck are an unprecedented degree of entertained (Taja and Mohd Radzi destruction. 1992). DEPLETION OF THE REGION'S The existence of conflicting policies 5. The Indonesian Government has, MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES and weak legislations concerning the since 1989, taken positive steps to maritime archaeological resources by revise its laws in their effort to In recent years there has been an the region's member-states may well safeguard their underwater heritage. increase in the number of underwater be one of the major reasons for the In 1992 a new law concerning treasure hunters, poachers and entry of numerous underwater Items of Cultural Property ensure salvors operating in Southeast Asian treasure-hunters in Southeast Asian penalties of a maximum of ten territorial waters. This has been waters. years in jail and/or a maximum sufficiently presented in Asiaweek's fine of one hundred million rupiah March 6, 1992 issue. whomsover intentionally damages or destroys cultural property and In 1985 tradeware ceramics, the site together with the porcelains and gold ingots from the surrounding area in which such Amsterdam-bound Dutch merchant (cultural) property is located or are ship Geldermalsen, which hit a reef carried off, moved, or are taken off Sumatra and sank in 1752 was away (Ambary 1992:6-7). salvaged by Michael Hatcher a DEVELOPMENT OF British national based in Australia. THE REGION'S CAPACITY FOR Illegal searches and explorations for The cargo from this wreck fetched MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH items of cultural property or valuable $15 million at auction undertaken by objects by means of diving, taking Christie's at the Amsterdam Hilton. The development of the Southeast away, etc. without the permission In all 150,000 porcelain pieces and Asian region's capacity for maritime from the authorities or the 125 gold ingots were sold at the archaeological research is one priority Indonesian Government is now auction. that must be addressed to properly meted with a penalty of a maximum protect and preserve the region's of five years in jail and/or a Rights to the Portuguese vessel, the maritime archaeological resources. maximum fine of fifty million rupiah. Flor de la Mar which sunk off The proper enforcement of these northern Sumatra are being contested SPAFA has undertaken steps in this ideal laws, however, still needs to be by both Lisbon and Jakarta. Malaysia direction. It has conducted a total of undertaken (ibid:7). is also interested on this wreck. It six Training Courses in Underwater wants back historical items they say Archaeology since 1978. These were In addition to the above difficulty is the Portuguese plundered from the all three-month courses which were the large Southeast Asian maritime Malacca sultanate. all held in Thailand, the SPAFA Sub- areas that may not be adequately Centre for Underwater Archaeology protected by the region's navies and Recent technological breakthroughs in until the present time. coast guards. The present prevailing the field of underwater exploration situation is conducive to the equipments and techniques put the SPAFA has been, in addition, depletion of the region's maritime region's maritime archaeological instrumental in sending Southeast archaeological resources. resources at greater risk. Due to these Asians to participate in the Training

1 2 SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER TWO in Underwater Archaeology at the Australia, France, and the United conservation. Department of Underwater States with academic and professional Archaeology at Marseilles, France. institutions such as the Australian Active networking with underwater These 3-month courses were Institute for Maritime Archaeology at archaeology laboratories which have undertaken in cooperation with the Western Australia, the Direction des the technical expertise and personnel, French Government. A Thai and a Recherches Archaeologiques Sous- such as the Western Australian Filipino were able to avail of these Marines (DRASM) in Marseilles, Maritime Museum laboratory at trainings. France and the Institute for Nautical Fremantle, Western Australia, would Archaeology at the University of be an adequate first step to fulfill this These training course included Texas now need to be strengthened. important exigency of preserving the theoretical and practical aspects of archaeological materials recovered underwater archaeological research, from the region's underwater techniques in underwater archaeological sites. archaeological explorations and excavations, history of sea-faring and navigation, and ship-building. The practical aspects of the course included the proper and effective use and maintenance of equipments, CONSERVATION OF basic conservation techniques for UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTS underwater archaeological materials, and techniques of recording, dating An important aspect that goes hand CULTURAL and mapping. in hand with the capacity to TOURISM AND PUBLIC EDUCATION undertake proper maritime In spite of the numerous SPAFA- archaeological research is the The region's maritime cultural sponsored Training Courses in knowledge and application of resources have important tourism Underwater Archaeology no member- appropriate conservation techniques applications. Properly protected and state of SEAMEO and ASEAN is, at to underwater archaeological managed these maritime present, fully capable of conducting materials. Maritime archaeological archaeological sites may be long-range underwater archaeological research is done only if and when converted into recreational research work on their own. This adequate conservation measures are underwater sites for the may now be the right time for the ensured or the maritime appreciation of tourists. The region's member-states, (through archaeological materials recovered. potential of underwater SPAFA), to determine steps so that archaeological sites as recreational the Soruheast Asian member-states Two SPAFA Training Courses in the sites and tourist attractions are now may start to undertake cooperative Conservation of Underwater only starting to be realized by the and joint undertakings in maritime Archaeological Objects have been tourism industry and, properly archaeological research. It is now undertaken, one in 1978 and the managed and protected, may well fitting to approach the maritime other in 1984. Both training courses be a good source of income for the archaeological sites in the Southeast had durations of three months. As region's tourism industry. Asian region with long-range the requirement for properly trained management strategies as contrasted conservators of underwater An increased public awareness and to short term procedures to archaeological materials is expected appreciation of Southeast Asia's individual underwater archaeological to increase in the Southeast Asian maritime archaeological heritage may sites. region in the near future SPAFA well be one of the best deterrents to needs to promote additional training the depletion of the region's important Closer cooperative ventures in courses in this specialized field of and non-renewable maritime

SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER TWO 1 3 archaeological resources. The in the forefront of cultivating the region's society and culture; region's diverse populations— school awareness and appreciation of teachers and students, Customs, Southeast Asia's cultural heritage as 4. Only representatives from Coast Guard and Navy officers, well as promoting and enriching the BONA FIDE scientific local and foreign tourists, sports archaeological and cultural activities institutions and organizations divers—need, through public in the region, now need to redirect are allowed to undertake education, to be made aware of the their efforts to ensure the effective underwater archaeological value of their regional maritime protection and preservation of the explorations and excavations archaeological resources. Politicians region's rich maritime cultural activities in Southeast Asian in the region, more importantly, heritage. waters; underwater treasure- should likewise be made aware of hunters present a serious threat the significance of the maritime As policy for an effective and to the region's maritime cultural archaeological heritage. This region-wide agreement to help heritage and, therefore, are not hopefully may lead to the ensure the adequate protection and allowed to interfere with the enactment of stronger legislations preservation of Southeast Asia's region's maritime archaeological for their portection. Appropriate maritime archaeologioal heritage the heritage; funding may likewise be ensured following STATEMENTS OF for the proper enforcement of these PRINCIPLES are here put forward: 5. Materials recovered from the legislations as well as for region's underwater archaeological underwater archaeological sites are to be kept together as a excavations and publications of 1. The Southeast Asian total collection in the country results. maritime archaeological heritage where the archaeological belongs to the people of the resources are found; these should Museums, Research Centres for region and is an important be dispersed only for Archaeology and Departments of component for the proper archaeological analyses and Anthropology/Archaeology in understanding and appreciation exchange among museums. universities in the Southeast of the area's history, society and Under no circumstances should Asian region may need to culture; these be apportioned with, incorporate public education separated or sold to any private programmes which are designed 2. The region's maritime entity; to inform the public about the archaeological heritage deserves region's rich maritime the adequate and effective 6. Museums in the Southeast archaeological resources through protection and preservation by Asian region should only exhibitions, lectures, tapes and the member-states through acquire and display underwater slides. SPAFA and ASEAN; archaeological materials which have been recovered through Regional organizations such as 3. The maritime archaeological systematic and legal SPAFA and ASEAN now need heritage of the region shall archaeological excavations. to exert greater effort to enhance consist of all Cultural public education programmes on Properties, including those the importance of the the belonging to other cultures, as These STATEMENTS OF Southeast Asian region's long as they are found in PRINCIPLES are deemed relevant as maritime archaeological Southeast Asian territorial the Southeast Asian maritime resources. waters—seas, rivers and lakes— archaeological resources are perceived and, therefore, may have played in regional terms instead of being SEAMEO-SPAFA and ASEAN, as the an important and significant merely of interest only to the two regional organizations which are role in the evolution of the different individual member-states.

1 4 SPAFA JOURNAL VOLUME TWO NUMBER TWO OMOS) in Paris, France. Conceived and presently operating under ICOMOS Australia the committee is now in the process of (a) identifying problem areas in the administration of and in the international cooperation for the protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH), NEW DEVELOPMENTS (2) examination of the mechanisms OVERVIEW for extending the concept of World Until recently there has been no Heritage listing to certain UCH sites, The importance of the Southeast international organization that (3) a review of national policies and Asian maritime cultural heritage undertakes activities specifically programnes and (4) the promotion of cannot be overemphasized. It is conceptualized for the appropriate international projects. tragic, however, that these important protection and management of the and non-renewable components of world's underwater archaeological This is one committee that SEAMEO- the region's cultural heritage are also heritage. SPAFA and ASEAN may network subject to plunder, near-sighted with in the near future if only to exploitation and vandalism. This is In November, 1991 the International outline appropriate steps to be unfortunate because a region's Committee on the Underwater undertaken to start, in earnest, the maritime cultural heritage, properly Cultural Heritage was formally indispensable and immediate managed and protected, has recognized by the International protection of the region's maritime important educational, recreational Council of Monuments and Sites (IC archaeological resources. and tourism applications.

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