Studies on elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth collected from the early 17th century Portuguese shipwreck off Goa, west coast of India: Evidence of maritime trade between Goa, Portugal and African countries

Abstract

Shipwreck findings are indicators of the provenance of artefacts and trade routes. Many shipwrecks datable from the Bronze Age to the modern period have been excavated to yield numerous varieties of artefacts, including cargo, personal belongings of the crew, arms and ammunition, treasure, royal belongings, etc. Similarly, exploration of a Portuguese shipwreck in Goa waters has led to the recovery of a variety of artefacts, including elephant tusks, hippopotamus teeth, the barrel of a handgun, Chinese ceramics, stoneware (Martaban pottery), iron guns, an iron anchor, bases of glass bottles, pieces of lead sheets, copper vessel and strap, stone and clay bricks and dressed granite blocks. A comparative study of the findings and the thermoluminescence date of excavated stoneware dated the wreck to the early 17th century AD. The 14 C date of ivory is 740 ± 130 yrs; with a calibrated age range of 740 to 560 yrs BP. The elephant tusks are highly degraded, discoloured and soft to the touch, whereas the hippopotamus teeth are still very hard. Maritime trade records suggest that these tusks are likely to have been brought from African countries to India to make different types of finished artefacts before being sent back to Portugal and her colonies. This article highlights the state and analysis of elephant tusks and hippopotamus teeth recovered from the wreck site with the provenance determined primarily on the basis of maritime trade records that report the importation of these materials from African countries to India.

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