Dr Anthony Clarke  

Ancient shipwreck cargo reveals surprising global trade secrets of the 1600s

 Using cargo recovered from one of Australia’s most infamous shipwrecks, new Curtin University-led

research has revealed how surprisingly sophisticated global supply chains helped source and transport construction materials in the 17th century.

The study analysed stone blocks, bricks and ballast from the Dutch East India Company ship Batavia,

which wrecked off the coast of Western Australia in 1629, revealing the materials came from multiple

quarry sources in Europe — not a single site as previously assumed.