The Indonesians diving for gold from the ancient Sriwijaya Kingdom
- Palembang is believed to be the modern centre of what was once the Sriwijaya Kingdom – a Malay Buddhist empire in the 7th to the 12th century
- Relics ranging from Chinese coins to bronze statues to ceramics have been found in the Musi River
Budiman pulls off his oxygen mask and gulps for air as he surfaces from the water, stretching out his hand to Badarudin, who is waiting on the boat.
From his back pocket, Budiman retrieves a sharp metal object that resembles a spear blade. It’s about 30 centimetres long, with a broken wooden base.
The spearhead is the most interesting object Budiman has found during his two-hour dive in Indonesia’s Musi River. The others are mostly pieces of ceramics which will sell cheaply at the Cinde Weekly Market in Palembang, South Sumatra Province.
Budiman has yet to find any gold.
Palembang, Indonesia’s oldest city established some 1,300 years ago, is believed to be the modern centre of what was once the Sriwijaya Kingdom – a vast Buddhist empire which dominated parts of the Malay Archipelago from the 7th to the 12th century and was known for its maritime economy and trade routes.
The 750km Musi River bisects the city, and the treasures found deep within its waters are thought to be relics from the kingdom.