The Treasure Hunters
Scattered over the seabed of Indonesia’s waters from Sumatra to Papua, sunken ships and their contents have become the object of treasure hunters. From the ships plying the Silk Route 14 centuries ago, the vessels’ cargos are now worth billions of rupiah. Companies with worldwide operations compete to gain the treasures at the ocean bottom. These treasures are the legacy of Chinese seafarers. Since the 7th century, vessels from various parts of the world passed Indonesian waters. Many stopped in the kingdoms on Java. From China, the ships took the western route, via Vietnam, Thailand, Borneo, India, on their way to Java. They also took the eastern route via the Philippines, Korea, and Japan. For centuries, hundreds of those ships sank, some when they hit coral reefs, others because of storms and still others when they were attacked. Today, their cargos have become the quest of treasure hunters.
A treasure trove worth trillions of rupiah is scattered over the seabed of Indonesia’s waters, from Sumatra to Papua. It is hunted by companies with worldwide operations and fiercely fought over as soon as they are discovered. Retired servicemen reportedly back some of the operations.
May 26, 2010
ANDI Asmara held the thick, encyclopedia-like book with extra care. Written in Chinese characters, the book the size of a 14-inch laptop had an English title: The Atlas of Shipwrecks & Treasure. “This book is exclusively owned by the world treasure community,” Andi, Chairman of the Indonesian Artifacts Salvage Business Association, told Tempo Thursday last week.
Two shelves in Andi’s office were lined with books on hidden treasure, some in
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