Shipwreck Databases Western Australian Museum

BAT16316A - Human

Batavia

Human artefact recovered from Batavia

Skull, human. Traumatised skull; mandible missing. Male aged c. 33–37 [? Hendrick Denys]
(2 skull fragments and hyoid located in box on MAS-012, formerly located MAC-069, Tr. 02)

Cranium fragment found in 2015 excavations returned from UWA to DMA 18.04.16.

Site Area Code Mid-West

Site Location Beacon Island: Under cement slab at ‘east’ [NW] corner of Johnson’s hut alongside BAT.A15507. Axial part of skeleton left in situ.

Number of Items 1

Material Human

Museum Reference

Registration Number 16316

ID 6327

Status Commonwealth

Map of shipwreck

Batavia

Under commandeur Francisco Pelsaert, and Ariaen Jacobsz skipper, newly built Batavia sailed from Texel 27 October 1628 for the Dutch East Indies with bullion, goods and silver. On 4 June 1629 the ship struck a reef near Beacon Island in the Houtman Abrolhos. Of the 322 aboard 40 drowned and the rest got ashore. In search of water and food Jacobsz, Pelsaert and others left site in a 30-foot (9....