MELAKA: The wreck of an ancient Malay vessel has been discovered on Pulau Melaka here.
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said this was one of the historic city's most significant archaeological finds in recent years.
He said the wooden ship, estimated at 50m to 70m in length, further enriches the state's historical narrative.
"This archaeological initiative is being carried out with utmost care to validate and preserve the artefact.
"It will be placed in one of Melaka's museums after conservation and research," he said in an interview on Friday (Oct 30).
Ab Rauf said the discovery would not only shed new light on Melaka's rich history but also pave the way for the development of a unique cultural tourism attraction.
"This will further elevate our state as a world-renowned destination for heritage, history and civilisation," he added.
Meanwhile, the National Heritage Department's deputy heritage commissioner Ruzairy Arbi said the ship, believed to date back to the 13th century, was uncovered through a joint excavation with the Melaka Museum Authority (Perzim).
He said the find was an important milestone for the nation while strengthening Melaka's reputation for maritime prominence during its golden age.
Ruzairy said preliminary studies revealed the ship was made of saga wood, which is native to the Malay Archipelago, along with traces of merbau.
"At this stage, we are still assessing the available data and artefacts to piece together the ship's history.
"We plan to extract these components and carry out conservation work to better understand how it was constructed," he said.
