Erosaria spurca shell from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw before 1613

This is an Erosaria spurca shell, a small, white shell with brown speckles, from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw. It was recovered from the ship which sank in 1613 off the coast of Sumatra. This shell, now in the Rijksmuseum, represents a testament to the global trade routes of the Dutch East India Company and the treasures they carried. This shell is a reminder of the historical significance of maritime trade and the beauty of the natural world.