Recently, divers recovered over 900 artifacts from two shipwrecks in the South China Sea that date back to the Ming dynasty. The wrecks were found 4,900 feet below the surface and are located less than a mile off the coast of Sanya, China. The sites are approximately 14 miles apart and have been carefully mapped and excavated by researchers using a deep-sea submersible named the “Shenhai Yongshi.”
According to Yan Yalin, director of the archaeology department for China’s National Cultural Heritage Administration, these well-preserved wrecks are a significant discovery that sheds light on ancient trade and cultural exchanges along the Maritime Silk Road. Among the artifacts discovered were porcelain pieces, pottery shards, copper coins, lumber, spiral-shaped turban shells, and deer antlers. Notably, cargo from one of the ships originated from Jingdezhen, known as China’s porcelain capital.
These findings highlight how important trade was in ancient times and how it led to cultural exchanges between different regions. While researchers continue to explore these centuries-old vessels and uncover more artifacts from them, they remain baffled by what caused these shipwrecks to sink so far into the ocean. Nonetheless, this discovery is an exciting reminder of our past and how it continues to shape our present culture.
