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Lisa Niziolek explained. In addition to ceramics, the ship was also carrying elephant tusks, possibly for use in medicine or art. Sweet-smelling resin, which could have been used for incense or for caulking ships, was also found. Previous carbon dating of the tusks and resin had dated the wreck to between 700 and 750 years ago. However, improved carbon dating techniques tell a different story. PIRATE MYSTERY : DOES THIS 300-YEAR-OLD BONE BELONG TO' BLACK SAM' BELLAMY ? When we got the results back and learned that the resin and tusk samples were older than previously thought, we were excited, we had suspected that based on inscriptions on the ceramics and conversations with colleagues in China and Japan, and it was great to have all these different types of data coming together to support it.