Underwater archaeologists have located the remains of a 9th-century merchant vessel belonging to the Srivijaya Empire off the coast of Palembang. The wreck is exceptionally significant for its cargo: a waterproofed lead chest containing Lontar (palm leaf) manuscripts inscribed with gold ink in Old Javanese and Sanskrit.
Preliminary scans of the manuscripts reveal diplomatic correspondence between the Srivijaya court and the Pala Dynasty of Bengal, discussing the founding of a monastery at Nalanda. This find provides unprecedented primary documentation of the maritime 'Silk Road of the Sea' and the political reach of the Buddhist thalassocracies.