These porcelain wares were found at a shipwreck near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea. Archaeologists estimate that the total amount of the relics could exceed 100,000 pieces, most of which are porcelain made during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital. /NCHA
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) shipwrecks discovered last year show significant historic value as they prove the historical continuum of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in the South China Sea.
Xiao Dashun, an archaeologist at the Guangdong Provincial Research Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, made these comments in a recent interview.
Two shipwrecks were found on the floor of the South China Sea during an expedition in October 2022, containing a variety of precious relics. With research continuing, more findings have been revealed.
The photo shows the interior of the No.1 shipwreck near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea, October 2022. Some 100,000 pieces of relics, mainly porcelain, were found in the ship. /NCHA
The shipwreck No.1 was a vessel that sailed out from China, while shipwreck No.2 was a ship that entered China from overseas. Although they traveled in opposite directions, both ships belonged to a similar time period and sank in roughly the same area, only a few dozen nautical miles apart.
This is the first instance where China has found ancient ships sailing and returning in the same sea area, confirming the importance and prosperity of this maritime trade route during that time.
These wooden logs were found at the No.2 shipwreck near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea. /NCHA
Xiao said that currently there are over 100 ancient shipwreck sites in the South China Sea, and linking these shipwreck locations together holds significant importance for studying the maritime trade routes in the region.
This also indicates the significance of this location and the frequency of activities along this trade route.
Xiao said the two deep-sea shipwreck sites on the northwest slope of the South China Sea fill in the missing links of ancient offshore navigation routes, which indicates the historical continuum of the ancient Maritime Silk Road in the South China Sea.