Fresh effort to raise the Dhammazedi Bell in Yangon

[SeaVisionBurma]

A local team said last week it would begin an attempt to raise the fabled Dhammazedi Bell from the depths of the Yangon River over the weekend.

From The Myanmar Times by Shwegu Thitsar

An illustration of the Dhammazedi Bell. Photo: Supplied

Cast in the 15th century, the bell is reputed to be the world’s largest, at about 270 tonnes. However, it has laid at the bottom of the river, near where the Yangon and Bago rivers meet, since a failed attempt in 1608 to take it from Shwedagon Pagoda to Thanlyin, where it was to be melted down and made into cannons.

Several attempts to raise it since the late 1980s ended in failure but U San Lin, who is leading the latest effort, told The Myanmar Times in an exclusive interview that he is confident of success.

The group has already raised K100 million from local businesses but is yet to receive a response from the government to a request to borrow a tugboat for the operation. It has also asked Myanmar Industrial Port to let it use a jetty in the event the bell is raised.

Read the full story here: Fresh effort to raise Dhammazedi Bell

[DagonKhan]

That old chestnut...

What was interesting though, was to read that the bell might not actually exist, first time I've heard that. Spitfires anyone?

[SeaVisionBurma]

That old chestnut...

... Spitfires anyone?

[phazey]

This project rings a bell.......

[SeaVisionBurma]

This project rings a bell.......

groan!!

[DagonKhan]

Renewed search underway for the fabled Dhammazedi Bell

Efforts are underway on the Rangoon River by a local team to find and recover the Great Bell of Dhammazedi - a giant bell that is said to have sunk 400 years ago.

The bronze Dhammazedi Bell is believed to have been cast in the 15^th Century and is reputed to be the world’s largest, as some records say it weighs about 270 tonnes.

At the confluence of the Pegu and Rangoon Rivers, boats and trawlers can be seen searching for the legendary bell. Work began three days ago, headed by San Lin and his team of excavators who finally received government permission to recover the bell after years of trying.

Continues here:- http://www.dvb.no/dvb-video/renewed-search-underway-for-the-fabled-dhammazedi-bell/43201

[DagonKhan]

Divers Probe River’s Depths in Latest Search for Dhammazedi Bell

RANGOON — A salvage team is working to retrieve an ancient bell said to have sunk to the bottom of the Rangoon River more than 400 years ago.

Win Myint, a leading member of the team, said the latest effort to find the Great Bell of Dhammazedi, believed to be the world’s largest, began four days ago.

“We believe we will find it. Today, we could dive only once as the current was quite strong. Ten divers are working on it,” he said, adding that among the dive team are ethnic Moken, also known as “sea gypsies” who hail from Burma’s Myeik archipelago and are famous for their deep-sea diving abilities.

Continues here:- http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/divers-probe-rivers-depths-latest-search-dhammazedi-bell.html

[SeaVisionBurma]

That Irrawaddy article is interesting.

I note he says that they are using 10 'ethnic Moken' divers. Having dived for the better part of a decade down in the Mergui Archipelago, and alongside the Moken - I am taking that claim with a grain of salt. Can't see him managing to get real sea gypsies out of the archipelago and up to dive shallow muddy waters in a raging river confluence. Very odd thing to put in the story.

Is there any mention of tech used to locate this thing? Side Scan Sonar etc? I'm curious as to how they are choosing the location for the search.

[DagonKhan]

The search for Myanmar's mysterious Dhammazedi Bell

By Jonah Fisher BBC News, Yangon

As Jonah Fisher reports, some people doubt the bell ever existed, whilst others think the search is cursed.

The fate of the Dhammazedi Bell is one of Myanmar's murkiest mysteries and for some Burmese a lifelong obsession. Four centuries after the world's biggest bell was last seen, a new salvage attempt is under way in Yangon (Rangoon), and it's attracting large crowds.

Story continues here:- http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28832296

[DagonKhan]

A Murky Story

ANGON — “Multi-beam Echo Sounding Survey.”

“3D Seismic Survey.”

“GPR–Ground Penetrating Radar.”

The language in an official method statement proposing the recovery of Myanmar’s famed Dhammazedi Bell owes everything to technology and science.

But this is a story in which star billing goes not to science but to superstition, and a supporting cast of dreamers, schemers and assorted would-be heroes.

Continues here:- http://www.irrawaddy.org/burma/from-the-irrawaddy-archive-burma/murky-story-2.html

[DagonKhan]

Under cloud of myth and mystery, Myanmar divers resume search for the world's largest bell

• 

  In this Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 photo, a man uses a pair of binoculars to get a glimpse of recovery efforts of an ancient bell in the Yangon River in Yangon, Myanmar. Unsubstantiated rumors that the 270-ton mysterious bell has been spotted have sent thousands of curious spectators flocking to the banks of the river. The world's largest copper bell, believed to have been lying deep beneath the riverbed for more than four centuries. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)The Associated Press

YANGON, Myanmar – Divers stand on the edge of a small wooden fishing boat gazing at the murky, choppy waters below. After receiving blessings from Buddhist monks, they lower their masks and plunge one-by-one into the mighty Yangon River, clinging to garden hoses that will act as primitive breathing devices during their dizzying descent into darkness.

Continues here:- http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/08/23/under-cloud-myth-and-mystery-myanmar-divers-resume-search-for-world-largest/

[DagonKhan]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755179-search-team-confirms-fabled-great-bell-of-dhammazedi-discovered/?p=8303080

[DagonKhan]

I will be keeping an eye on Youtube for any clips concerning this. Especially ones with underwater footage of dragons being slayed, that will be awesome to watch.

[SeaVisionBurma]

I will be keeping an eye on Youtube for any clips concerning this. Especially ones with underwater footage of dragons being slayed, that will be awesome to watch.

Yes, very very interested to see some proof of this, if you spot anything please let us know DK!

[DagonKhan]

No progress on Dhammazedi bell search

The Dhammazedi bell search team leader San Lin has remained silent on the progress of the salvage operation.

Continues here:- http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/No-progress-on-Dhammazedi-bell-search-30242656.html

Edited September 6, 2014 by DagonKhan