No. 237 Maritime Archaeology in the People's Republic of China ...

Figure 138. Artefacts recovered from a dredger, 1995 (CHI/
DH/O/22).
vessels recorded by Europeans after contact are representative
of northern styles, and not the southern seafaring designs
(Van Tilburg, 1994:7). The technical information from
archaeological sites is limited to a few examples of Song
Dynasty shipwreck sites ( the most substantial of these is the
Quanzhou shipwreck site). However, current boat building
techniques can reveal aspects of ancient shipbuilding given that
technology tends to change slowly overtime. Modern vessels
can be a clue to the designs of vessels used in the past. This
could be considered especially true of the everyday merchant,
trading and fishing vessels, rather than those designed especially
for the imperial army.
Changes in techniques and methods of construction can
occur as a result of a combination of events. Such events
include a major innovation or discovery within the society,
a cultural contact and exchange from outside, a naturally
occurring change as a response to changing needs, or when
the introduction of technological change occurs. Shipbuilding
techniques and methods of construction generally change very
slowly from generation to generation. However, from time to
time major changes do occur. For example, in recent times,
the introduction of the diesel engine has had a tremendous
effect on traditional boat design.
Previous projects by the Western Australian Maritime
Museum over the last few years have involved a number of
boat ethnographic recording operations, including Chong Wu,
Da Zhi and Shen Hu, in Jin Jian County near Quanzhou and
Long Jian and Zhang Zhou, near Xiamen.
The aim should be continue the documentation of wooden
shipbuilding in China and to compare this with the Asian and
Indian Ocean region and then to attempt to extrapolate back
using archaeological and historical information.
hi S t o r i C a l r e S e a r C h a n d t r a n S l at i o n o f w o r k S
There are a number of texts written by early European
visitors to Asia that commented and recorded information on
Chinese shipbuilding. Further work should be done to collate
this material and stimulate ongoing research with Chinese
scholars. Extensive historical-archaeological analysis has
been conducted at Xiamen University has resulted in a series
of papers that would have great interest for researchers if they
were to be translated. They include the Quanzhou shipwreck
Figure 139. Ceramic material recovered from a surface collection of
the Bai Jiao 2 wreck site (CHI/DH/O/40).
pattern and structure, the ancient maritime trading activities,
ancient buildins and stone tablets related to maritime cultures,
exported ceramics and kilns.
et h n o G r a P h Y o f Ch i n e S e S o u t h-e a S t e r n S h o r e l i n e t r a d i-
t i o n S
Ethnography of the traditions and folklore related to
the seafaring communities are a vital component in the
understanding of the ethnography of maritime cultures.
Examples of this are the traditions related to Mazhu, the goddess
of the sea and protector of the seamen. Temples dedicated to
this deity have flourished in recent years.
Ethnography of the traditions and folklore related to the
seafaring communities are a vital component of understanding
the ethnography of maritime cultures. One example is tradition
related to Mazhu, the goddess of the sea and protector of the
seamen. Temples dedicated to this deity have flourished in
recent years.
89