 The ship could originally have been said to be of Arabian or Indian origin , as there is little to differentiate between ships of the area during that period , in regard to construction techniques — though its frame uses a species of tree that is only found in a small part of Africa . After analysing the hull form , timber species , and construction methods , <unk> concluded that the wreck was of Indian or Arabian origin . India was considered the more probable place of construction but Arabian construction was not ruled out , as the timber used was commonly imported to the Middle East for use in shipbuilding . Flecker concluded that the wreck was an Arabian ship in his 2010 chapter from the Sackler exhibition catalogue , arguing that " from an analysis of construction methods and materials and hull form , the author has determined that the Belitung wreck is an Arab vessel . " 
