Murex ternispina shell from the wreck of the Dutch East India ship Witte Leeuw before 1613

This is a Murex ternispina shell recovered from the wreck of the Witte Leeuw, a Dutch East India ship that sank in 1613. The Witte Leeuw was a vital cog in the Dutch East India Company’s trading network, carrying precious cargo, and tragically, enslaved people, between continents. This unassuming shell, less than six centimeters in length, offers us a poignant glimpse into the complex interplay of trade, exploitation, and ecological disruption that defined this era. Likely collected from the shores of Southeast Asia, it represents the appropriation of natural resources, extracted from their native context. Consider this shell as a silent witness to the stories of those who never made it home. Its delicate form, now residing in the controlled environment of a museum, echoes the imbalance of power inherent in the colonial project. It serves as a reminder of the human costs embedded in the pursuit of global commerce.