Sweet Water on the Sea Route to China

Potable, or “sweet,” water was the foundation stone of maritime provisioning and, by implication, route planning on all but shortest voyages in premodern world. Without it, trade and other forms seaborne exchange circulation were effectively impossible. Yet sources technologies transportation have been comparatively neglected Indian Ocean history archaeology. This paper rereads data from ninth-century section Akhbār al-Ṣīn wa-l-Hind (Accounts China India) alongside recent evidence two contemporary shipwrecks to examine spacing watering stops employed long-distance sailings between Gulf Chinese ports. Working 2021 publication volumetric capacity a group so-called torpedo jars excavated Thailand, this article proposes some preliminary quantitative estimates volume freshwater, thus number jars, required board vessels at time. In so doing it raises important questions about portability handling as well varied uses reuses such transport jars. Weaving passages with information ceramic remains Phanom Surin Belitung wrecks, aims start conversation very real physical physiological parameters that underlay connectivity underpinned them.