Submerged treasures tell story of Umluj shipwreck and Red Sea trade

JEDDAH: A shipwreck off Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast has become a window into centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange, with artifacts from the site featured in the “Sunken Treasures: The Maritime Heritage of the Red Sea” exhibition at the Red Sea Museum in Historic Jeddah.

The exhibition, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), combines archaeological discoveries with historical storytelling, tracing the transformation of the Umluj shipwreck from a merchant vessel into an underwater archaeological site and a natural reef habitat.

The vessel, measuring about 40 meters in length, struck coral reefs off the coast of Umluj and sank to a depth of 22 meters. The site was discovered in 2007, with archaeological excavations beginning in 2015.

Researchers uncovered earthenware jars, Chinese porcelain and other artifacts reflecting the ship’s commercial cargo and the extensive trade networks that connected East Asia, the Indian Ocean and Red Sea ports during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Researchers uncovered earthenware jars, Chinese porcelain and other artifacts reflecting the ship’s commercial cargo and the extensive trade networks. (SPA)