# Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum

4°52′54.7″N 114°58′06.9″E﻿ / ﻿4.881861°N 114.968583°E﻿ / 4.881861; 114.968583
The Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum (Malay: Muzium Maritim Brunei Darussalam) is a museum located at Kota Batu, Brunei.

## Background

The museum is located within the historical area of Kota Batu. The building is a short walk to the Malay Technology Museum.
The construction began in December 2006 and completed sometime in 2008. However, delays caused it to only be opened to the public after seven years. The museum was officially launched by Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah on 23 March 2015. The construction cost around five million Brunei dollars.

## Exhibits

The museum consists of three galleries. The Brunei Shipwreck Gallery highlights the discovery of the Brunei Shipwreck in 1997. The Archaeological Heritage Site Gallery displays historical findings from various archaeological sites across Brunei. The Brunei Maritime Golden Age Gallery showcases the development of shipbuilding technology, artifacts related to traditional seafaring and maritime trade, and significant achievements in Brunei’s maritime history.
The first gallery is called The Brunei Shipwreck Gallery and displays selection of artefacts from a shipwreck site from the coast of Brunei in 1997. The collection consists of foreign ceramics dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. This gallery is the de facto focal point, thus a permanent exhibition, of the museum.
The second gallery is named "The Archaeological Heritage Site Gallery". This exhibition provides insights into the lives, culture, and technology of past societies through the artifacts that have been uncovered. The exhibits showcases a model of Pulau Terindak and a fleet of small model of ships, accompanied by a selection of artifacts uncovered from various archaeological sites across Brunei. These displays offer a captivating glimpse into the rich history and heritage of the region.
The third gallery, The Brunei Maritime Golden Age Gallery, highlights Brunei’s rich maritime history. It showcases the evolution of shipbuilding technology, key artifacts related to traditional seafaring, and the country's significant role in maritime trade. The gallery celebrates Brunei's achievements during its golden age of maritime power, reflecting its strategic position in both regional and global trade networks.

## History of the shipwreck finding

On May 24, 1997, Brunei Darussalam made history with the discovery of a shipwreck off its coast, believed to date back to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). The shipwreck is thought to have been carrying a variety of goods such as ceramics, beads, and other artifacts intended for trade. This discovery provided valuable insights into the trade relations between Brunei and China during that period, as well as Brunei’s significant role in Southeast Asia’s maritime trade routes.
The Brunei Shipwreck was discovered accidentally by Elf Petroleum Asia (Total Fina) during geophysical survey work. The anomaly detected measured 20 meters long by 15 meters wide and was located 62 meters below the sea surface, approximately 32 nautical miles from Brunei’s coastline.
Following this discovery, research began in October 1997 to determine the origin and dating of the materials. As a result of this research, 150 items, including ceramics, beads, iron, and bracelets, were successfully uncovered. Salvage and conservation efforts for the artifacts were carried out from May to August 1998.
Through these efforts, a total of 13,261 artifacts were successfully recovered. Most of these items originated from various countries, particularly China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The discovered artifacts included ceramics, beads, glass, bracelets, iron, grinding stones, gongs, and elephant tusks.
4,870 artefacts from Jiangxi province falling under the category of blue and white pottery, or blue and white ware, are among those that have been successfully gathered. Plates, dishes, jugs, glasses, coasters, bowls, pots, kettles, bottles, and pots are among them. In addition, 190 different kinds of white pottery from the Chinese province of Fujian were discovered. These pottery pieces included plates, bowls, and cups. The next kind of pottery is celadon, which is indigenous to China's Guangdong province. Furthermore, 14th-century Thai ceramic pottery, or stoneware, was also gathered. This porcelain comes from the Si Satchanalai area in central Thailand, giving it the name Si Satchamlai pottery or Sawankhalok pottery. These artefacts include clay bowls, jars, plates (dishes), and bottles in a variety of shapes.
Furthermore, ceramics from Vietnam were discovered in the wreckage, which dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries and includes white and blue-and-putch style pottery as well as stoneware bowls, urns, and flower vases. Glass bracelets, ash stones (grindstones) made of granite stones, and beads made of stone, glass, and tin are among the other objects that were successfully gathered. It is assumed that all of the confiscated goods originate from China and Vietnam. The finding of historical artefacts from this shipwreck undoubtedly supports the claims made by several Chinese and Western sources on Brunei's position as the principal commerce hub in northwest Borneo, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries. This demonstrates that China halted in Vietnam and Thailand before the traders arrived in Brunei.