CERAMICS FROM SUNKEN SHIPS ON DISPLAY AT NATIONAL MUSEUM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Ceramics found in a Sung Dynasty ship, which sunk off Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in the northern tip of Sabah, will be among artefacts to be displayed at the 1Malaysia Ceramic Exhibition at the National Museum here.

The ship, from the Sung Dynasty that ruled China between 960 and 1279, was
among the earliest ship to have sunken in the country's waters.

Museum Director-General Ibrahim Ismail said other ceramics to be
displayed were from the ship Diana which sunk in 1817 during the Qing Dynasty
and another ship which sunk in Desaru in 1830 also during the Qing Dynasty.

There would also be ceramics from the ship Wanli which sunk in 1630 during
the Ming Dynasty, he told a news conference.

The ceramics, totalling 171 altogether, were on display since yesterday
until March 28 but the exhibition would only be open on weekends, he said.



He said that the museum wanted to enlighten the people on the discovery of
the artefacts which were once used daily by people in ancient culture.

"We have previously displayed pre-historic ceramics found in caves during
the Mesolithic Era as well as ceramics used in the burial rituals of Sabah and
Sarawak communities," he said.

The exhibition was also to encourage Malaysians to visit the museum, he
said, adding that the 1Malaysia Ceramic Exhibition was called as such because
ceramics were also a part and parcel of the culture of the Malaysian people.

The exhibition is opened from 10am to 5pm.

-- BERNAMA