Mud and sand still cover countless plates and bowls – the porcelain on the seabed. For experts, the find is invaluable.
Haikou – The fine patterns on the traditional rice bowls are clearly visible in photos. The porcelain is over 500 years old and dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644). It is an amazing find of unimaginable value. The treasure was found in shipwrecks in the South China Sea.
Valuable porcelain from the Ming Dynasty at a depth of 1500 meters
At a depth of 1500 meters, researchers discovered two shipwrecks and hundreds of thousands of old porcelain pieces. "Ancient shipwrecks No. 1 and No. 2 on the northwestern landside of the South China Sea are relatively well preserved, with a large number of cultural relics and a relatively clear era," the authorities said in a statement. "They have important historical, scientific and artistic values." It is not only a significant discovery of deep-sea archaeology in China, but also a great archaeological discovery of world importance.
Rice bowls, crockery and plates – researchers discover treasure in the sea
The researchers assume that the "shipwreck No.1" was used to transport goods from overseas to China. The wreck dates back to the Zhengde period from 1506 to 1521 and was loaded with more than 100,000 pieces of porcelain tableware.
Porcelain from the Ming Dynasty lies at the bottom of the sea. The find is priceless. © Imago
Sea treasure discovered at a depth of 1500 meters: Secret of the Silk Road revealed?
"Shipwreck No.2" was assigned by the experts to the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1488 to 1505. It had loaded persimmon logs and some pottery. The wrecks were found at a distance of less than 20 kilometers and were driven in different directions, reports the British The Guardian. According to the archaeologists, there are many indications that the ships were on an important trade route.
"This helps us explore the Silk Road," Tang Wei, the director of China's National Center for Archaeology, told the Guardian.
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Both wrecks were discovered in October last year. Further investigations of the site are currently taking place, samples are to be taken.
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