The depths of the South China Sea have yielded a treasure trove of history as archaeologists retrieve 928 cultural relics from two Ming Dynasty shipwrecks. The National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) announced Thursday that the excavation, spanning 2023 to 2024, was a collaborative effort between research institutes and a local museum in Hainan Province.
From the first shipwreck alone, 890 artifacts were carefully excavated, including exquisite porcelain, intricate pottery, and historical copper coins. The second shipwreck contributed 38 additional items, featuring lumber, porcelain and pottery products, distinctive turban shells, and deer antlers.
Discovered in October 2022 at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters near the northwest continental slope, these Ming Dynasty shipwrecks offer invaluable insights into maritime trade and cultural exchanges of their time.
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Over 900 relics retrieved from shipwrecks in South China Sea
cgtn.com
