Michael Flecker

A Ninth-Century Arab or Indian
Shipwreck in Indonesia
8 Vosmer 1997, 227.
is remarkably similar to the through-beams on a
still extant Omani fishing craft called a battil (fig.
21). 8 The angle of the through beam rebate is 72°,
which is important in determining the original
hull form, as discussed below.
An intact through-beam was found loose on
the site (fig. 22), just aft of the bow on the starboard
side, but again this position is of no real
significance. It is 2.7 m long, 22 cm sided on the
upper surface, 25 cm sided on the lower surface,
and 21 cm moulded. The beam end, where it
passed through the hull, is significantly smaller
in section (fig. 23). The other end has eroded to
a stump, so there is no indication whether one
long beam traversed the ship, or whether there
was a scarf joint. It is very interesting to note that
the rebate cut for the hull timbers is angled at
70° for the lower plank and is nearly vertical for
the upper plank, implying that there was a hard
chine of sorts at this point. More importantly it
implies that it was installed near midships, and
that the beam of the vessel did not extend further
at that point.
The through-beams are made of teak (Tectona
grandis). This is a magnificent timber, eminently
suited to shipbuilding, particularly for hull
planking, as the teak resin makes the wood resistant
to toredo worm attack. It is relatively light,
strong, and easily worked.
Lime sealing compound
A lime-like sealing compound was found on the
plank edges along the longitudinal joints and, in
Fig. 20 Through-beam end in situ (Drawing: M. Flecker).
16 A Ninth-Century Arab or Indian Shipwreck in Indonesia