28/12/2020
#culturebis > Ressourcerie des arts, des langues et de la culture
This week on #MaritimeMonday, the #NationalMuseumPH features the Tagbita Bay shipwreck that was accidentally found by fishermen off the shores of Sitio Tagbita, Municipality of Rizal, southwest Palawan.
The National Museum of the Philippines, along with a private partner, began investigations in 2003 and periodically carried out archaeological excavations until 2007. The shipwreck lies at 27 meters below sea surface level on a mud and silt seabed and measured approximately 50 meters long and 12 meters wide. The excavations proved very challenging due to the very low on-site visibility brought about by heavy sediment deposition from two nearby rivers, one of which contained mine tailings.
More than 500 archaeological materials were recovered that included ship structures and on-board utilitarian items such as ceramics, glass, metal, wood and organic materials (tea). The lower hull of the vessel was covered with copper sheathing, a diagnostic feature for English vessels during the 18th century CE. The English Royal Navy pioneered the application of copper sheathings in wooden ships to protect its hull from Teredo navalis (shipworm). Another remarkable find is a navigational instrument called sextant that was found alongside two (2) glass lenses and a set of circular three-hinged frames. Sextants are instruments that measure the angle between a celestial body and the horizon called an altitude.
Many objects have distinguishing features such as proprietary brand names and manufacturer’s marks that helped in identifying the origins of the ship and its crew. Some glass objects were embossed with ‘Webbs Double Soda, London’ and ‘Majesty, Islington, London’. A rectangular medical bottle is embossed with ‘Geo: Curling & Comp St May Axe London’ – a wholesale pharmaceutical company based in London. A condiment bottle is embossed with Lea & Perrins – a famous brand of Worcestershire Sauce established in the early 1800s by the chemists John Lea and William Perrins.
The ceramics comprised jars, dishes, and mugs with English and Chinese provenance. Some stoneware jars were embossed with manufacturer’s marks such as ‘J.T. Morton Provision Merchants, 107 108 & 109 Leadhall St London Powell Bristol, Regd March, and ‘D. Beatson Wemyss BT Island & Kirkaldy’.
The shipwreck and on-board material evidence points to an English vessel that sank during the mid-to late-19th century CE. The ample presence of tea chests in the lower holds strongly suggest that the vessel may have been a Clipper-type ship that engaged in tea trade between China and England during this period.
The vessel’s location is very significant since Palawan at this time was part of the Sulu Sultanate that was heavily involved in the trade between the English and the Chinese. Sulu provided maritime and jungle products, these include tripang (sea cucumber), bird’s nest, wax, camphor, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, shark’s fin, cinnamon, pepper, cocoa as merchandise to be exchanged with the British East India Company who, in turn, exchange these products in China for primarily tea, along with textiles, ceramics and other Chinese merchandise that Europe needed.
Archaeological study is very important in supporting accurate interpretation of past events, which helps in reconstructing our history. When a site is disturbed or pilfered, we lose information forever without the significant context to assist us in piecing together our story. This is much more valuable than the selfish individual’s monetary gain or enriching their personal collections. Our heritage and recounting its narrative through material culture benefits future generations and our aspirations as a nation. If you see or have knowledge of sites being looted, report to your local government authorities immediately or contact the closest NMP office near you.
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Poster and Text by Nero Austero, MUCHD
Photo Credits: Tagbita Bay Site Photomosaic – Dennis Hunter and Pauli Eichel
© National Museum of the Philippines (2020)
