Ceramic Shards Of Qing Dynasty Found In Southeast Maluku

Ceramic shards from China from the Qing dynasty found in Southeast Maluku (Maluku Archaeological Center)

AMBON - A team of archaeologists from the Maluku Archaeological Center found a number of Chinese ceramic shards during the Qing Dynasty at the Batu Han Cave Site, Somlain Village, West Kei Kecil District, Southeast Maluku Regency

"During our research, we found a number of ceramic shards, but only two were taken as samples for further analysis, one of the samples came from China during the Qing Dynasty," said archaeologist Lucas Wattimena in Ambon, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, June 29.

According to him, the team he led accidentally found ceramic shards from China while conducting a survey of archaeological data collection in Southeast Maluku Regency in 2019, lying on the floor of the Batu Han Cave site.

Shaped like a container that resembles a plate, the ceramic shards are white with floral motifs in black. After being analyzed, the ceramic shards were known to come from mainland China and were produced during the Qing Dynasty, around the 19-20 century AD.

The discovery of Chinese ceramic shards is thought to have something to do with trade transactions, but it is not yet known why these foreign ancient objects could be in the Han Stone Caves, which are burial sites of the past.

"Chinese ceramic shards were found lying on the surface of the Han Stone Cave floor along with a number of ceramic shards and other pottery," Lucas said.

He said Batu Han Cave is located about 50 meters from Somlain Village, West Kei Kecil District, Southeast Maluku Regency, and was known as a community burial site in the past.

Batu Han in local terms means the tip of the stone. Located in a cluster of cliffs that stretch along the western coastline, the cave faces west with a height of approximately 10 meters from the base of the cliff.

In addition to Chinese ceramics, a number of other ceramic shards and pottery containers were also found there, one of which was a bowl produced by the Dutch company, Petrus Regout Maastricht around the 19-20 century AD.

"Maybe because the cave is a burial site, human bones are also there," said Lucas Wattimena.