Michael Flecker

other corners square. Two such pieces are stacked
on top of each other just to port of the keelson
near the bow, and another was found loose. A
short square shaped piece is located adjacent to
the ceiling timbers near the bow. The forward
end has been broken off, but given the fibrous
nature of the wood, and its location so near the
bow, this break is thought to be original. Most of
the timbers have a pair of small rectangular holes
at each end, although some have the holes at one
end only.
The author is of the opinion that these ceiling
timbers were removable. The primary evidence
for this is the large quantity of neatly stacked
ceramic bowls found well under the timbers.
A few stacks could be easily explained by cargo
shifts during the wrecking process. But these
bowls were stacked several layers deep and under
the inner ceiling timbers. Furthermore they
are stacked just high enough to fit beneath the
ceiling. They may well have been stowed prior
to installing the ceiling. The pairs of holes in
the ends of the timbers provide the only points
for lashing, but none was observed. It is thought
that there was no lashing, and the ceiling timbers
were simply held in place by the weight of the
cargo. The holes would have facilitated handling
in harbour, and may have encompassed a rope
handle.
The ceiling timbers are made from Cupressus sp.
(possibly C. torulosa) of the Conifer family.
Hull planks and frames
The hull planks are typically 4 cm thick and vary
in width from 20 to 40 cm. Marks on the plank
surfaces clearly indicate that they were sawn (fig.
15). They are stitched edge-to-edge with rope
passing through holes at 5 to 6 cm spacing. The
main stitch is straight across the edge-joint, with
Fig. 15 Saw marks clearly visible on a recovered hull plank
(Photograph: M. Flecker).
A Ninth-Century Arab or Indian Shipwreck in Indonesia 13