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

This Erosaria spurca shell, dating back to before 1613, was recovered from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw. Now housed in the Rijksmuseum, this small, tan-colored shell exemplifies the vast trade network that connected Europe to Asia during the 17th century. Its presence on the Witte Leeuw indicates the ship's voyage to the East Indies, where this type of shell is found, before it sank. It is a tangible reminder of the Dutch empire's reach and the objects that circulated through its trade routes.