A recent deep-sea archaeological expedition in the South China Sea has led to the discovery and recovery of over 900 artifacts from two ancient shipwrecks dating back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
This significant find, announced by the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) of China provides new insights into ancient maritime trade and cultural exchanges along the Maritime Silk Road (via South China Morning Post).
China Unearths Ming Dynasty Shipwrecks Loaded with Artifacts
GUANGZHOU, CHINA - MARCH 17: Historic Hennessy artefacts at the Hennessy 250 Tour Exhibition during the Hennessy 250 Tour at the Zaha Hadid Opera House on March 17, 2015 in Guangzhou, China.
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
GUANGZHOU, CHINA - MARCH 17: Historic Hennessy artefacts at the Hennessy 250 Tour Exhibition during the Hennessy 250 Tour at the Zaha Hadid Opera House on March 17, 2015 in Guangzhou, China.
In October 2022, researchers aboard a manned submersible discovered two shipwrecks on the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, roughly 150 kilometers southeast of Sanya, Hainan Island. Located 22 kilometers apart and resting at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters, the wrecks have been identified as Ming dynasty merchant vessels from different eras.
The excavation, conducted over three phases from 2023 to 2024, was a collaborative effort involving the National Centre for Archaeology, the Chinese Academy of Science, and a local museum in Hainan.
The team utilized advanced deep-sea technologies, including both manned and unmanned submersibles equipped with flexible manipulator arms to retrieve artifacts and collect seabed sediments. The researchers also employed 3D laser scanners and high-definition cameras to document the distribution of the shipwreck areas.
Ceramic bowls are displayed at the Asian Civilisation Museum during a preview of items recovered from a Tang-era shipwreck in Singapore on November 9, 2015. The shipwreck, discovered in 1998 off Belitung island in the Java sea, carried a cargo of more than 60,000 ceramics from China during the Tang dynasty, including gold and silver objects. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images
Researchers Recover Ancient Artifacts from Shipwrecks
From Shipwreck No. 1, the team recovered 890 items out of a total of more than 10,000 identified artifacts. Xinhua reports that these included porcelain, pottery, and copper coins. The cargo of this ship, originating from Jingdezhen-the renowned porcelain capital of China-was intended for export, underscoring the vessel's role in ancient maritime trade.
Shipwreck No. 2 yielded 38 artifacts, including ebony logs from the Indian Ocean region, porcelain, pottery, turban shells, and deer antlers, suggesting that the vessel was returning to China when it sank.
The discovery of these shipwrecks provides crucial evidence of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. The artifacts recovered not only highlight the commercial interactions between China and other regions but also reflect the extensive maritime activities of the Ming dynasty.
"The discoveries of two shipwrecks are important evidence of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road," said Guan Qiang, Deputy Director of the NCHA.
According to Guan Qiang, this operation represents China's attainment of a world-class level in deep-sea archaeology. The successful use of sophisticated technology to explore and recover artifacts from such depths demonstrates the country's growing capabilities in this field.
