Scientific Analysis of Maritime Archaeological Artifacts

In the field of numismatic research, Ellen Hsieh has collaborated with scholars from multiple countries, including the University of Illinois (USA), to study Chinese coins excavated from the Preah Khan site in Cambodia. The results have been published in the international journal Asian Archaeology. This study integrates both terrestrial and underwater archaeological data to examine the circulation of Chinese coins in Southeast Asian maritime regions. Through scientific analysis of the chemical composition of the excavated coins, the research explores the multiple roles and functions that Chinese coinage may have played within the predominantly non-monetary economic system of the Angkor Kingdom.

In ceramic studies, Hsieh has taken advantage of the well-preserved Anping jars recovered from the Ma-gong Harbor site to conduct 3D scanning and statistical analyses of the assemblage. This work clarifies their production characteristics and variations, contributes to ongoing discussions regarding the production and distribution of Anping jars, and recontextualizes the artifacts within their broader historical framework. In particular, the study connects these materials to the activities of the Dutch East India Company in the Penghu region. The research findings were presented at the International Congress on Underwater Archaeology (IKUWA8).