Hydro-Oceanographic Modelling Use in Underwater Archaeological Research of Shipwreck Site Discovered in Abang Island Waters, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia
Dublin Core
Title
Hydro-Oceanographic Modelling Use in Underwater Archaeological Research of Shipwreck Site Discovered in Abang Island Waters, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia
Description
In 2020, the Research Institute for Coastal Resources and Vulnerability (RICRV) conducted an underwater archaeological survey in Abang Island waters, Riau Archipelago Province, Indonesia. The wreck site location is 64.14 km from Batam Island, and the archaeological remains lie at a depth of 20 meters. The underwater findings consist of hundreds of earthenware storage jars and ewers produced in Thailand and some blue-white porcelain plates from the Ming Dynasty era. The hydro-oceanographic data and ocean dynamics back-tracing modelling in the 1600s, along with the sedimentation and bathymetry profiling has been used to predict the sailing route of the ship, sunk in Abang Island waters. The sailing ships in the past would have relied on nature-based generators such as waves, tides, currents, and winds.
According to the hydro-oceanographic modeling result, the extreme current flow generated by tidal and winds in the South China Sea in the 16th century AD peaked at 1.3 m/s during the northeast monsoon. This state could be more weakened during the southeast monsoon. According to the tidal phase delay and asymmetry and the presence of cargoes originating from China and Thailand, the ship was possibly sailing from the north via the South China Sea and cut through the Riau Archipelago from Bintan, which passed through a group of islands, including Abang Island to sail whether toward the north Malacca Strait or Bangka Belitung and Java. Additionally, based on the sediment transport model, the possibility of unidentified artifacts buried by sediment at the depth 60 cm beneath the surface bottom was sufficiently high. An excavation is recommended to prevent the archaeological remains from local looting and natural erosion.
According to the hydro-oceanographic modeling result, the extreme current flow generated by tidal and winds in the South China Sea in the 16th century AD peaked at 1.3 m/s during the northeast monsoon. This state could be more weakened during the southeast monsoon. According to the tidal phase delay and asymmetry and the presence of cargoes originating from China and Thailand, the ship was possibly sailing from the north via the South China Sea and cut through the Riau Archipelago from Bintan, which passed through a group of islands, including Abang Island to sail whether toward the north Malacca Strait or Bangka Belitung and Java. Additionally, based on the sediment transport model, the possibility of unidentified artifacts buried by sediment at the depth 60 cm beneath the surface bottom was sufficiently high. An excavation is recommended to prevent the archaeological remains from local looting and natural erosion.
Creator
Ulung J. Wisha
Nia N. H. Ridwan
Widodo S. Pranowo
Wisnu A. Gemilang
Guntur A. Rahmawan
Stanov Purnawibowo
Agus Sudaryadi
Publisher
The Museum of Underwater Archaeology
Date
November 2021
Bibliographic Citation
Wisha, Ulung J., Nia N. H. Ridwan, Widodo S. Pranowo, Wisnu A. Gemilang, Guntur A. Rahmawan, Stanov
Purnawibowo, and Agus Sudaryadi. 2021. “Hydro-Oceanographic Modelling Use in Underwater Archaeological
Research of Shipwreck Site Discovered in Abang Island Waters, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.” Edited by Brian Fahy,
Hans Van Tilburg, Bill Jeffery, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Riley Smith. In Proceedings of Fourth Asia Pacific Regional
Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Keelung,Taiwan, and Virtual, November 1-5, 2021. The Museum of
Underwater Archaeology URL: https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/exhibits/show/apconf-muchproceedings/item/689
Purnawibowo, and Agus Sudaryadi. 2021. “Hydro-Oceanographic Modelling Use in Underwater Archaeological
Research of Shipwreck Site Discovered in Abang Island Waters, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia.” Edited by Brian Fahy,
Hans Van Tilburg, Bill Jeffery, T. Kurt Knoerl, and Riley Smith. In Proceedings of Fourth Asia Pacific Regional
Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage: Keelung,Taiwan, and Virtual, November 1-5, 2021. The Museum of
Underwater Archaeology URL: https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/exhibits/show/apconf-muchproceedings/item/689
Rights Holder
Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Cultural Heritage
Files
Citation
Ulung J. Wisha et al., “Hydro-Oceanographic Modelling Use in Underwater Archaeological Research of Shipwreck Site Discovered in Abang Island Waters, Riau Archipelago, Indonesia,” APCONF-MUCH Proceedings Recently Added Items, accessed October 24, 2026, https://apconf-much.org/proceedings/items/show/689.