Scheenbeen van een varken uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder Hollandia before 1748

This is a pig's tibia, or shinbone, recovered from the shipwreck of the Hollandia, an East Indiaman that sank in 1743. Consider the world of the 18th century, an era of exploration and colonial expansion. The Dutch East India Company dominated trade routes, extracting resources and wealth from distant lands, yet, their ships were floating cities, carrying not only spices, silks and porcelain, but also livestock to feed the crew. This bone serves as a stark reminder of the lives, human and animal, caught up in the currents of global trade. It’s a visceral connection to the past. What does it mean to hold a piece of history that once belonged to a living creature, now a relic of a forgotten journey? Consider the pig, raised to be food, unknowingly part of the engine of empire. This unassuming bone invites reflection on themes of life, death, and the complex tapestry of history.