Marine Heritage Gallery Jakarta

The Marine Heritage Gallery is a gallery dedicated to shipwreck cargoes found in Indonesian waters and accessible to the public since 2016. The Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has managed the gallery directly.

Over 148,000 shipwreck cargoes have been declared as state owned to date, and these cargoes were from ships that sailed between 9th to 18 century. The cargoes are historical evidence of interactions between kingdoms in Asia and beyond. These are now stored in Cileungsi Warehouse with strictly limited access.

Marine Heritage Gallery was established as part of the Sustainable Development Goals with the vision to educate members of the public on Indonesian maritime history. The gallery also aspires to build an Indonesian society with respect, environmental awareness and understanding of the Indonesian ocean and its maritime culture.

Marine Heritage Gallery is the only gallery in Indonesia focusing on shipwreck cargoes and displays cargoes from:

a) 9th Century collections, uncovered from Bangka-Belitung waters. These collections were believed to have travelled to the Middle East and South Asian peninsula markets.

b) 10th Century collections, uncovered from north Java sea of Cirebon, comprise various items from Chinese ceramics, glass works and jewellery from the Middle East, other items from other parts of Southeast Asia are believed to have travelled to Java Island.

c) 11-12th Century collections, uncovered from Buaya Island, Riau, include Chinese ceramics, glass works and jewellery from the Middle East, amongst other items from other parts of Southeast Asia believed to have travelled to Sumatra.

On Google Arts & Culture, the Marine Heritage Gallery brings together 9 stories from 10th Century collections uncovered from Cirebon north sea of Java Island. More stories will come on the platform soon for everyone to enjoy.