Treasures from Ming dynasty shipwrecks offer new clues about an ancient trade route
- More than 900 artefacts have been retrieved from two merchant vessels, and they tell us about the Maritime Silk Road, scientists say
These artefacts could help researchers learn about how China traded goods with other countries during the Ming dynasty.
These artefacts could help researchers learn about how China traded goods with other countries during the Ming dynasty.
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A team of Chinese archaeologists have hauled up more than 900 artefacts from two ancient shipwrecks in the South China Sea, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) of China.
The researchers used deep-sea technologies to investigate the sites over the last year.
The shipwrecks are merchant vessels referred to as No 1 and No 2. The archaeologists said they believed the wrecks were from different periods in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
The two sites are 22km apart and lie 150km southeast of Sanya, on the island province of Hainan.
At the No 1 shipwreck, 890 objects were recovered – including porcelain, pottery and copper coins – out of more than 10,000 items identified at this site. At the No 2 shipwreck, 38 artefacts were recovered, including ebony logs from the Indian Ocean region.
“The discoveries of two shipwrecks are important evidence of trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road,” said NCHA Deputy Director Guan Qiang.