Page 86 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

3 The Investigation and Preliminary Analysis of Nan’ao … 53

3.1.2 The Distribution of the Loaded Cargo

The distribution of the artifacts inside the compartments shows us the information
of the seamen’s preference of loading cargo on the boat. The compartments
uncovered were full of different types of cargoes, showing the seamen’s intention of
both loading cargo as much as possible and of increasing the vessel stability in
sailing. Among them were large blue and white porcelain plates, several iron
cannons and some commodities which the crew loaded in the middle compartments
of the boat. The pottery pots full of various kinds of food and fruit as rhizoma
smilacis glabrae, as well as sets of small ceramic bowls and plates were held in front
compartments of the boat. The iron cooking pots and kitchen utensils were dis-
covered in the back compartments.
The artifacts were held tightly inside the compartments. The plates, bowls,
dishes etc. were stacked tightly together according to their same size and same
shape (Fig. 3.2), piled up by different layers in which the thin planks were set to
separate them. The large pottery pots were usually !lled with small ceramic plates,
bowls, bronze coins, small ornaments artifacts, fruits and food, resulting that the
entire compartment were full with different cargoes with no more surplus room.
Anyway, some artifacts were loaded randomly, as some heavy artifacts such as
copper ingots and iron pots were uncovered inside the heap of porcelain plates.

Fig. 3.3 The collection of porcelains from the Nan’ao No. I shipwreck