Ancient shipwrecks found
SINGAPORE: Three shipwrecks including one resembling a Portuguese warship have been discovered in the Straits of Malacca.
Well-known Australian maritime archaeologist Dr Michael Flecker, who has carried out more than 100 explorations in numerous countries around the region, made the latest discovery during a blanket survey along the Straits last year.
“At one location, I have found two vessels lying side by side,” said Dr Flecker, who was reluctant to reveal the actual location to prevent looting.
He also revealed pictures he had taken of cannons, cannon balls, bones of animals that were consumed on the ships and broken Ming dynasty porcelain.
Dr Flecker is the managing director of Maritime Explorations and has been involved in underwater explorations for the past 20 years. He said the warship was located in an area between Pulau Upeh and Pulau Panjang off the coast of Malacca.
“So far, based on our research which has been done some four nautical miles from the coast of Malacca (within Federal waters), the ship could have been a Portuguese vessel under the command of Admiral Coutinho. It sank in 1583 during a battle.
“This is an important find as this shows that the locals resisted the Portuguese occupation of Malacca,” he said, speculating that the ship could have been taken down by an Acehnese war fleet.
He said the ships were detected using sonar and their location and authenticity confirmed through dives.
Dr Flecker said although his findings were very preliminary, he was excited about the prospect of possibly finding what could be the oldest European ship found in Malaysian waters.
“I am actually more interested in the area nearer the coast which is under state jurisdiction (within three nautical miles). If this is searched, the chances of finding more ships are much higher,” he added.
Dr Flecker said it was up to the state government to approve the permit to conduct his search within state waters, adding that he had submitted reports to the state government of his finds.
In Kuala Lumpur, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said he was aware of the find and that he had been informed of the progress and what had been done.
“I have also talked to the state government and if anything else develops, Dr Flecker should inform National Museum director-general Datuk Dr Adi Taha, and the Government will pick it up from there.
“Who knows? We might be uncovering something interesting,” he said.
Artigo no The Star (KL)
Artigo em pt no Publico
Nota sobre as diferenças no tratamento das noticias:
Publico (Portugal): "Espera que, a partir delas [prospecções], se possa conhecer melhor o papel desempenhado no passado pelo estreito de Malaca - que liga o oceano Índico ao Mar da China meridional e é partilhado pela Malásia, Indonésia e Singapura - e por Portugal, que conquistou o território em 1511."
The Star (Malasia): " “This is an important find as this shows that the locals resisted the Portuguese occupation of Malacca,” he said, speculating that the ship could have been taken down by an Acehnese war fleet. "
P.S.- Portugal não conquistou "o territorio", conquistou sim a cidade de Malaca em Agosto de 1511, que conservou até 1641, data em que os Holandeses tomaram Malaca. E claro que sempre houve oposição dos "locals", que por acaso até não eram habitantes de Malaca, mas sim dos reinos muçulmanos vizinhos de Johor e Acém (Aceh).
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