Zircon Crystals Reveal Sophisticated 17th-Century Trade in Batavia Shipwreck
On July 29, a study featured in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports utilized zircon crystals to trace the origins of the sandstone blocks found on the Batavia, a flagship of the Dutch East India Company that sank in 1629 off the coast of western Australia. These stones were sourced from at least two quarries in Germany, probably Bentheim and Obernkirchen, and were processed in Amsterdam before being sent to Batavia, now known as Jakarta. Anthony Clarke, the lead author from Curtin University, described the supply chain as 'surprisingly sophisticated.' The shipwreck resulted in mutiny, murder, and slavery, with 341 individuals on board. Researchers aim to reveal further narratives from the site.
Key facts
- Batavia wrecked in 1629 in Houtman Abrolhos Islands off western Australia
- Study published July 29 in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
- Sandstone blocks traced to at least two German quarries: Bentheim and Obernkirchen
- Stones assembled in Amsterdam before shipment to Batavia
- Lead author Anthony Clarke is at Curtin University
- Co-author Chris Kirkland also at Curtin University
- Batavia was a Dutch East India Company flagship
- 341 passengers and crew were aboard
- Mutiny led by Jeronimus Cornelisz after commander Francisco Pelsaert left for help
- Cornelisz and six followers hanged in October 1629
- Alternative hypothesis by Jaco Koehler suggests famine triggered violence
- Wendy van Duivenvoorde expressed skepticism about famine hypothesis
- Corioli Souter of Western Australian Museum co-authored the study
Entities
Artists
- Anthony Clarke
- Chris Kirkland
- Kieran Hosty
- Francisco Pelsaert
- Jeronimus Cornelisz
- Jaco Koehler
- Wendy van Duivenvoorde
- Corioli Souter
Institutions
- Curtin University
- Dutch East India Company
- Western Australian Museum
- Australian National Maritime Museum
- Flinders University
- Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
- National Geographic
- Guardian
- International Journal of Maritime History
Locations
- Houtman Abrolhos Islands
- Australia
- Germany
- Bentheim
- Obernkirchen
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Batavia
- Jakarta
- Indonesia
- Morning Reef
- Long Island
- Australian mainland