Srivijaya is probably the greatest empire you’ve never heard of: known as the Island of Gold, the floating kingdom ruled Indonesia (and much of South East Asia) for more than 600 years.
In the 12th century, it vanished without trace, like the fictitious island of Atlantis, said by the Greek writer Plato to have been submerged by the Atlantic Ocean.
Srivijaya’s treasures, even its location, have remained a mystery… until now.
Fisherman in the city of Palembang, on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, began to stumble across the answers in the murky bed of the vast River Musi five years ago.
Using crude and dangerous diving gear — and dodging the river’s crocodiles — they have hauled up buckets of mud containing glittering clues to the secrets of the Island of Gold.
The startling finds include gemstones and gold jewellery, a life-sized, gem-studded statue of the Buddha (said to be worth millions of pounds) as well as earrings and gold beads from necklaces.
Read more:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10138455/Once-floating-kingdom-Silk-Route-fishermen-finding-priceless-artifacts-Srivijaya.html