An Exhibition of Ancient Austronesian Vessels

Exhibition Title：An Exhibition of Ancient Austronesian Vessels

Exhibition Time：2026.07.25–2027.05.09

Exhibition location：New Taipei City Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology Special Exhibition Hall II

In traditional Austronesian songs, references are often made to “here,” “there,” “wind,” and “waves,” metaphorically reflecting the navigational knowledge and migration memories of ancestors who, thousands of years ago, sailed across the Pacific, riding winds and waves. The ocean is a sacred space, and these songs include prayers to the sea and ancestral spirits, seeking safety and expressing respect for marine resources. Oral slang also reflects the Austronesian people's values ​​regarding vessels.

This exhibition showcases various vessels closely tied to Austronesian life. It introduces how they accomplished epic ocean migrations using unique shipbuilding and navigational technologies. Furthermore, it highlights archaeological disc.

Departure: From Arks to Islands 

The Austronesian language family is one of the most widely dispersed language families in the world, stretching from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east. Across this vast area of ​​over 13,000 kilometers, the footprints of the Austronesian ancestors who braved the winds and waves are still visible. This section introduces the vast distribution of the Austronesian peoples, the academic hypothesis of their origin theory "Out of Taiwan," and how they used unique ship technology to complete their epic ocean migration.

Vanished Vessels, Left Behind Journeys

Since prehistoric vessels were mostly made of wood, and organic materials such as wood are prone to decay in the earth's strata, direct evidence of prehistoric vessels is extremely rare. This section focuses on archaeological discoveries in Taiwan, demonstrating Taiwan's key position in Austronesian maritime culture and showcasing the specific features of Taiwan's prehistoric shipbuilding technology.

The Island as a Ship, The Ocean as Part of Life

The maritime culture of the Austronesian peoples embodies a symbiotic relationship with the sea, viewing it as their living space. For them, the sea is not an obstacle, but a pathway. This section emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between the Austronesian peoples and the sea through their rituals, ceremonies, and oral traditions.