Jonque de Brunei (en)

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Lying some 50 kilometers off the coast of Brunei at a depth of 65 meters, the wreck was discovered on May 24, 1997, during an underwater archaeological campaign sponsored by Total. The wreck was an Asian trading ship that in all probability sank in the late 15th century.

Preliminary investigation of the wreck brought together 140 specialists from diverse areas (archaeologists, restorers, ceramics experts, draftsmen, IT experts, photographers, divers and doctors).

It brought to light one of the biggest cargoes ever discovered in a wreck in the South China Sea. Around 14 000 pieces of ceramic of diverse provenance were discovered on board, including many pieces of Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese manufacture. The Brunei wreck was also found to contain some very unusual artifacts: glass paste bracelets, bronze gongs, millstones, cooking wares etc..

- Total tells the story of its underwater adventures at the Conciergerie, Paris -

After financing investigation and excavation with the agreement of the local authorities, Total decided to organize a very special exhibition at the Conciergerie in Paris. The exhibition covers the entire episode: from the unbelievable – and unexpected – discovery of the wreck off the coast of Brunei to the scientific analysis and classification of the finds. The principal objective of the exhibition was not therefore to showcase works of art per se, but instead to examine the sequence of events that brought the wreck’s treasures from the bottom of the sea to the display cases of many museums. The story of the discovery therefore helps raise public awareness of the work of archaeologists in the form of a completely unique adventure.