The relics of the Srivijaya Kingdom were most likely found by fishermen from the Musi River, Palembang, Sumatra. In its heyday around the 14th century, the island of Sumatra, where the Srivijaya Kingdom was located, was known as the Golden Island.
The fishermen's find is remarkable, as it consists of treasures ranging from large 8th-century Buddha statues inlaid with precious gems, to gems for kings.
"In the last five years, extraordinary things have emerged. Coins from all periods, gold and Buddha statues, gems, all kinds of things that you might read about in Sinbad the Sailor, they do exist," said Dr Sean Kingsley, a maritime archaeologist. England, quoted from The Guardian.
He described the treasure as definitive proof that Srivijaya was a "water world" because its people lived in rivers like modern boatmen, as ancient texts record.
"When civilization ended, their wooden houses, palaces and temples all sank with all their belongings. The local fishermen, the modern seamen of Sumatra, finally uncovered the secrets of Srivijaya," he said.
A fisherman prepares to dive free with a hookah breathing system, and an iron chain for ballast, in the Musi River, Palembang in search of treasure. Photo: Wreckwatch
This research on Sriwijaya's heritage will later be published in the latest issue of Wreckwatch magazine, edited by Kingsley. The Srivijaya Study is part of a 180-page publication focusing on China and the Maritime Silk Road.
Kingsley notes that at its height, Srivijaya controlled the arteries of the Maritime Silk Road, a colossal market where local, Chinese and Arab goods were traded.
"While the western Mediterranean world entered a dark age in the eighth century, one of the world's greatest empires appeared on the map of Southeast Asia. For more than 300 years the rulers of Srivijaya ruled the trade routes between the Middle East and the Chinese empire. Srivijaya became an international crossroads for the best products of the era. The ruler amassed a legendary fortune," he explained.
He also explained that from these shallow waters, gold and glittering gems emerged, which was equivalent to the image of Srivijaya as the richest kingdom. The treasures found ranged from trading tools, weapons of war, to relics related to religion.
Fishermen's findings detail the existence of temples, places of worship, bronze and gold Buddha statues, to a bronze temple door knocker with a picture of the demon Kala's face. There are also bronze monk bells, gold ceremonial rings inlaid with rubies and decorated with a four-pronged golden vajra scepter, and divine weapons.
This study did not find any information on why the Srivijaya Empire collapsed. Kingsley speculated that the Srivijaya Kingdom was the victim of a volcanic eruption in Indonesia. "Or did the muddy river swallow the whole city?" he asked.
Meanwhile, Indonesian history records that one of the causes of the collapse of the Srivijaya kingdom was the decrease in merchant ships that stopped by. The fewer merchant ships that stop by, the less trading and trading activities. Therefore, the Sriwijaya Kingdom's income from ship taxes also declined and made it bankrupt.
Without official excavations, evidence that could answer such questions would be lost. Unfortunately, the treasures that fishermen find are mostly sold before archaeologists can study them properly.
As a result, historical objects that only end up in the hands of antique dealers. Meanwhile, fishermen who dive using improvised equipment and risk danger, receive very little in return for the value of the objects they sell.
