The Island of Misool is one of the major islands of Raja Ampat, West Papua. It’s known as Marine Sanctuary because of its rich biodiversity of hard and soft corals with calm turquoise seas that are ideal for on-water sports adventures like kayaking, tubing and water-skiing.
Raja Ampat Island has a legendary stone egg enshrined in Mayalibit Bay as the embodiment of the myth of a woman who found 7 dragon eggs of which 4 eggs laid and later became four major islands named Waigeo Island, Salawati Island, Batanta Island, and the one as we know it: Misool Island.
The Beginning of Economic History in Misool Island
Ceramic found in Misool Island came from Ching Dynasty, Ming Dynasty, Europe, Japan, and Netherlands. This shows that economic trading has existed since thousands of years ago in Misool Island, since Papua is rich in natural resources.
Raja Ampat in the past has been some kind of a gate to open the path to international shipping that connects Cenderawasih Bay and Maluku as the centre of the world’s spices. At first, merchants from Arab came to Papua to find Masoi Wood, Tortoise Shell, Cendrawasih Bird but some of them stayed whilst also spreading the religion of Islam to Indonesia during their visit to West Papua. The evidence can be found from tombstones carrying Arabian and Bugis names such as Solehuddin Wajo and Bugis Bodalle.
Ceramic as Medium of Exchange
Ceramic came from Greek keramos which means glassware or items made from burnt clay. The physical characteristics of ceramic types that have been glazed are not typical characteristics from Indonesia during the Bronze Age. Hence, it is highly possible that there were relationships made with another kingdom from other countries within this time period.
Many ceramics were not only used as medium of currency for economic purposes, but also pushed by the desire to foster solidarity and pride to give more than its actual value. The demand for luxury things arose during the Majapahit Kingdom in XIV century to acquire porcelain from China, so much so that it’s said that a special royal messenger is especially sent to do diplomatic trading with China.
Ancient Ceramics Shapes and Their Place of Origin
Ceramic found in shapes of plates mostly came from China, Europe, and Netherlands, whereas ceramic in the shape of bowls is majorly from China, saucers, and spouts came from the Dynasty of Ching and Ming era, within 16-17 BC.
Many fragments of ceramics from China can be found throughout the Island of Misool, mainly because of Cheng Ho who was sent by Yongle Kaiser from the Ming Dynasty to expand the spice trade at the border of China between the years 1405-1433. Hence, the usage of Chinese ceramics during this time period was very common. West Papua, as a strategic geographical location in the past, has been a world-known Spice Trading Centre and absorbs the world’s attention from the western and eastern world. This Island, in particular, has rich natural resources such as minerals and valuable spices and became the most popular extension of power from the heated power competition between Ternate and Tidore. Ceramics from the Island of Misool is a silent witness that contributes to the evolution of the Indonesian Archipelago’s economy to this day.
