Advanced Tech Unearths Hidden Treasures in Hainan Waters

via various sources, 24 June 2024: Two Ming Dynasty shipwrecks off the coast of Hainan, discovered in October 2022, have yielded over 100,000 cultural artifacts, including porcelain, pottery, and bronze. Using state-of-the-art technology, researchers are documenting and preserving these relics, which shed light on China’s maritime history and ancient trade routes. The artifacts will be displayed at the Hainan Museum of the South China Sea.

The two shipwreck sites are relatively well-preserved and contain a wealth of cultural artifacts with a clear historical context, said Song Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Centre for Archaeology of the National Cultural Heritage Administration.

“This discovery not only stands as a major achievement in deep-sea archaeology within China, but it also holds global significance as a world-class archaeological find,” he added.

Archaeological investigations have confirmed that the core area of No 1 Shipwreck, housing the primary accumulation of the hull and a significant amount of neatly stacked cargo, spans 37 meters in length and 11 meters in width.

It is estimated that over 100,000 cultural relics, including porcelain, pottery, bronze, ironware, bamboo and wood are hidden on the spot, with much of No 1 Shipwreck still submerged under sand. Some of its exposed sections are buried by up to three meters of artifacts.

Source: Shipwrecks offer up their treasures

See also:

• Shipwrecks off Hainan offer up their treasures | China Daily, 25 Jun 2024