Maritime archaeologists have retrieved hundreds of artifacts from two centuries-old shipwrecks that were recently discovered in the South China Sea.
The shipwrecks were first spotted in October 2022 at a depth of around 4,900 feet near the northwest continental slope of the sea, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) said Thursday.
Both date to the Ming dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644. From May 2023 to June 2024, a team of Chinese researchers conducted an underwater archaeological investigation of the shipwrecks.
Researchers have now confirmed that the first shipwreck dates back to the reign of Emperor Zhengde (1506-1521) and contains more than 100,000 artifact pieces. The second, meanwhile, was built during the rule of Emperor Hongzhi (1488-1505) and primarily contains a large number of wood logs.
Artifacts from one of the recently discovered shipwrecks in the South China Sea. The two shipwrecks date to China's Ming dynasty.Artifacts from one of the recently discovered shipwrecks in the South China Sea. The two shipwrecks date to China's Ming dynasty.CGTNSong Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Archaeological Research Center under the NCHA, told Chinese English-language news outlet CGTN that previously unseen artifact types were uncovered at the shipwreck site.
One marking found on a red and green bowl from the first wreck helped to date the stricken vessel to the first year of Emperor Zhengde's reign.
"This completely confirms our previous speculation that the No.1 shipwreck belongs to the Zhengde period. This is the most important finding of our third phase [of research]," Jianzhong said.
The maritime archaeologists have also retrieved around 890 artifacts, or pieces thereof, from the first shipwreck, including porcelain and pottery items and copper coins. A total of 38 items, including lumber, porcelain and pottery products, and deer antlers, have been removed from the second shipwreck.
The shipwrecks serve as important sites for understanding trade and cultural exchange during the Ming dynasty in the South China Sea, according to Guan Qiang, deputy head of the NCHA.
Artifacts recovered from the Ming dynasty shipwrecks. Among the items are pottery and porcelain products.Artifacts recovered from the Ming dynasty shipwrecks. Among the items are pottery and porcelain products.CGTNEarlier this month, maritime archaeologists announced that they had recovered two large grave slabs from a historic 13th-century shipwreck in waters off the coast of England.
The stricken medieval vessel—known as the "Mortar Wreck"—lies at the bottom of the sea off the coast of the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in the county of Dorset, southern England.
The ship sank around 800 years ago, making it the oldest known in English waters. At the time, it was carrying several items of cargo, including the grave slabs and a number of grinding mortars, hence the name.
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