Posted on 08/09/2009 5:51:07 AM PDT by decimon
Over 1,100 years ago, an international crew of men set sail on a perilous journey. They are returning home from Tang Dynasty China with rare ceramics and gold, created by ninth-century Chinese craftsmen, desired by the rest of the world. For centuries, China has traded with the West over land, via the Silk Road. They traveled safely from the Middle East, all the way to China. But on their return voyage, they made a fateful decision. Here, off the coast of Indonesia, the reef-filled waters are so deadly that ancient sailors called the area the Treacherous Bay.
Tilman Walterfang was lured here in the late 1990s, in search of undersea treasure. An engineer by trade in his native Germany, Walterfang maintains a lifelong passion for ancient art. He comes to Indonesia on a quest for big discoveries. Local fishermen find a mound of ceramics on the seabed. Based on the designs, they appear to have been created between 600 and 900AD, in Tang China. Walterfang hires Mike Flecker, an Australian maritime archaeologist, to manage the excavation. The whole vessel was buried. It had 1,100 years of sediment accumulated on top of that.
(Excerpt) Read more at taipeitimes.com ...
Tilman Waterfang ping.
“Tilman Waterfang ping.”
If this is a low-volume ping list, I’d like to be on it.
If this is a low-volume ping list, I’d like to be on it.
Not a list. I just like the name.
Claims to the treasure by Mainland China: Incoming in 5,4,3,2,1,0.....
Wasn’t the first name of the person the Tang Dynasty was named after “Poon?”
rofl.... :-)
It was Wu..
Hmmm...that ‘Tilman Waterfang’ was a copy/paste and it should be ‘Tilman Walterfang.’
Thanks!! I stand corrected!!
Actually Yuan. The family name was Li. Since Chinese usage puts the family name first, the founder’s name was Li Yuan.
Chinese dynasties usually called themselves after a description, such as the Ching (Manchu) dynasty, which means “glorious,” not after the name of the ruling family. I’ve been unable to find out what Tang means in Chinese.
The wood is found across Africa, from Senegal to Uganda. If it’s a timber coming from Africa, it’s far more likely that it was just transported the short distance up to Yemen or Oman and the vessel was built there.
Uganda, in pre-modern days, was one hell of a long way from the coast. Getting a bulk material from Uganda to Oman would have been for all practical purposes impossible.
It's much more likely the wood grew at the time somewhere on the east African coast and the ship was built near where the wood grew. Which likely indicates Arab and/or Indian colonies on the African coast.
They don't look oriental to me
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Thanks decimon. Okay, the opportunity for jokes in this topic made me a little lightheaded. |
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Wu’s on first?
Wu Tang?
Oh man, this is gonna be real good...!
Not that I know.
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