Updates on the Southeast Asian Lashed Lug Shipbuilding: New Evidence and Perspective from Indonesia

Agni Mochtar

This presentation examines recent findings of lashed lug remains, including both disarticulated and intact hulls from the Sumatra mainland and surrounding small islands, over the past decade. It also reviews previously studied Indonesian sites that have been overlooked in the regional discussion of this maritime tradition. The research enhances current understanding of lashed lug vessel construction, highlighting a reconsideration of the exclusive use of non-metallic materials in hulls and providing updated information on rigging and propulsion systems. Among the significant discoveries presented here is the new radiocarbon dating of three sites, funded by the Granucci Awards, which has revised the chronological timeline of lashed lug sites across Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the presentation addresses the language barrier that leads to the omission of vital data in the broader regional maritime archaeology of Southeast Asia.