21. 3. 2004 Calendary

21.3.2004 Cirebon Treasure

Categories: Treasures , Calendar

Glass objects from Mesopotamia, crystal statues of the Fatima dynasty, pearls from the Persian Gulf, rare porcelain and gold products from Malaysia. All of these precious objects were part of the so-called Cirebon Treasure, which experts have estimated to be worth $80 million.

The treasure came from the wreckage of a vessel that sank off the coast of Indonesia around 960. More specifically, off the port of Cirebon, hence the name "Cirebon Treasure". The name of the ship that carried the precious artifacts remains unknown. The objects were supposed to be part of a trade transaction.

The vessel was carrying real gems. For example, porcelain and celadon pottery from imperial China, crystal sculptures typical of the Faof the Tim dynasty in Egypt, glassware from Mesopotamia, pearls from the Persian Gulf, but also bronze and gold objects from Malaysia.

The ship was carrying around 25,000 different objects. The treasure was first spotted by fishermen at a depth of around 60 metres. Divers, whose work was financed mainly by private sources, immediately began to explore it. The operation to explore the Indonesian coast was authorised by the local authorities.

According to Cosmix Underwater Research Ltd director Luc Heymans, they have found the most unique find in Southeast Asia. "This wreck is certainly one of the most significant ever found in Southeast Asia. Whether it is the quality of the treasure or the quantity of items found," Heymans said.

Some of the haul was recovered by the Indonesian capital Jakarta. The rest went to auction. Since it was not successful, the treasure went to Singapore, where it was offered for sale. The ambition was to keep the treasure intact and get it into a museum. The media reported on this in 2012.

The month before that, it also carried a report about treasure hunter Greg Brooks, who claimed to have found the wreck of a World War II British ship that was said to contain platinum worth €2.3 billion. Brooks identified the ship's hull using underwater cameras. He was assisted in the search by his team

Sources: www.aktuality.sk, www.novinky.cz, www.iol.co.za

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