Fragmenten dierlijk rib uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder Hollandia before 1748

These fragments of an animal rib come from the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Hollandia. The Hollandia sank in 1743, during its maiden voyage to Batavia, now Jakarta. It was a time when the Dutch East India Company dominated global trade, extracting resources and labor from across Asia. These bone fragments offer us a glimpse into the harsh realities of maritime life in the 18th century. Whose hunger did these bones once satisfy? What class or race were they? Were they free or enslaved? Such objects challenge any romanticized view of colonial exploration. They speak to the grueling conditions faced by sailors and the often-invisible human and animal costs of empire. Consider how these small remains connect to larger narratives of exploitation. They evoke the personal stories of those who were part of this historical moment, inviting us to reflect on the human and animal experiences that underpin global trade.