Research & Article

Between 1975 and 1977 the Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Navy and Danish experts, conducted exploratory excavations of underwater wreckage of ancient cargo ships lying in the Gulf of Thailand. The first phase of investigation involved the discovery and exploration of sunken junks by plotting and following possible ancient Siamese maritime trade routes. Researchers found that three different routes may have existed and discovered a total of eighteen wrecks distributed along these paths, four of which are of note and three of which have been studied in depth. This paper covers the findings of the wrecks at Koh Kradad and Pattaya, leaving the discoveries of Sattahip and Prasae for a paper at a later date. During the second phase of investigation, excavations were conducted at these shipwreck sites. The article concludes that the Koh Kradad shipwreck was a sea adventurer during the early period of Aytuttah and was wrecked no later than the mid-seventeenth century, most likely in a catastrophic manner given its proximity to shore. At the site finds included wooden objects, stones and pottery, although complete and valuable finds have been most likely stolen from the wreck. Notably, the presence of granite stones is unusual. and the sugar pots found differ from other wrecks. The Pattaya Shipwreck is believed to have been a cargo carrier also active during the mid seventeenth century. Finds include wooden objects, pottery and lead, although the ship was significantly damaged by looters. The composition of the ship’s pottery suggests it was not meant for export, but rather food storage for the long voyage. Conversely, the large quantities of lead hint at a known principal export of Thailand and were compared by researchers to lead mining in Kanchanaburi.