Botje van een varkenspoot uit het wrak van de Oost-Indiëvaarder Hollandia before 1748

This is a pig's foot bone, recovered from the wreckage of the Dutch East India ship, the Hollandia. It offers a visceral connection to the past, evoking the harsh realities of 18th-century maritime life and trade. Consider the social hierarchy onboard. While officers enjoyed relatively comfortable provisions, the average sailor subsisted on meager rations, often including salted pork. The presence of this bone speaks volumes about the diets, lives, and social stratifications of those on board. Maritime trade and colonial expansion were fueled by the labor of diverse groups, including enslaved people and indentured servants. This seemingly insignificant bone thus serves as a potent reminder of the human costs behind global trade and colonial ambitions. It embodies the dreams and suffering of those who lived and died at sea.