Brunei's Sunken Treasures Return Home After Oz Trip
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Around 500 artefacts from the sunken treasures of Brunei made its way back to the shores of Brunei after a successful four-month exhibition tour around Australia.

Accompanying the artefacts back to Brunei were two Australians, Mr Dick Richards, the Curator of Brunei Ship Exhibition in Australia, and Mr Michael Jones, the Manager of the Brunei Ship Exhibition in Australia. Both possess an in-depth knowledge of Brunei's sunken treasure and are here to assist in the unpacking and recording process of the returning artefacts.

The Bulletin recently caught up with the duo while they were busy recording the artefacts at an undisclosed warehouse.

In an interview with Mr Dick Richards, he said that the Brunei Ship exhibition that passed through the cities of Sydney, Canberra and Perth had received an encouraging response from the general public in Australia.

More than 200,000 people had visited the exhibition, which showcased artefacts from Brunei's sunken ship, he said, adding that the exhibition has helped Australians understand Brunei's culture and customs.

Aside from the display of artefacts such as bronze cannons, gongs and water vessels, there were also video presentations on how the artefacts were excavated. There were also talks by divers who assisted in the retrieving of the artefacts from sea.

According to Mr Dick Richards, the cargo of the sunken ship, which lay beneath the deep sea, was believed to be 500 years old.

He said that it was a very important piece of history as it sheds light on what Brunei used to trade hundreds of years ago.

Mr Richards believes that there is a large possibility that the ship was actually a Bruneian ship or a ship from one of the Southeast Asian countries.

"It has been a great pleasure to work with the Brunei Museums Department to bring this wonderful exhibition to Australia," he said, adding that the Australian people now have a better appreciation for Brunei's history.

Meanwhile, Mr Jones pointed out that he was delighted that Brunei could lend Australia the collection of artefacts, saying that the exhibition was culturally enlightening and a diplomatic success.

Also assisting in the recording process was Hj Abd Latif bin Hj Abu Bakar, the Curator of Conservation.

Besides Australia, the Brunei Ship exhibition had also been held in Paris, France in 2002. Hj Abd Latif pointed out that other countries such as China, England and Canada were interested in having the Brunei's sunken treasures exhibited in their countries. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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