Archaeologists have started exploring the interiors of the Song Dynasty "Nanhai Number One" shipwreck .
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Archaeologists excavate the interior parts of the wrecked ship belonging
to the Song Dynasty "Nanhai Number One"
on Dec 2, 2014 [Credit: Xinhua] |
The vessel, 30.4-meter-long and 9.8-meter-wide, was constructed during the Song Dynasty and sunk more than 800 years ago. It is the oldest and the largest wrecked merchant vessel yet discovered, and also the best preserved.
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Archaeologists sift through the interiors of the wrecked ship belonging
to the Song Dynasty "Nanhai Number One"
on Dec 2, 2014 [Credit: Xinhua] |
The ship was found accidentally by the British Maritime Exploitation and Recover Company and Guangzhou Salvage Bureau in 1987. They were searching for another wrecked ship of East India Company, called "Rijnsburg", but they stumbled upon more than 200 cultural relics that were identified to be from Song Dynasty.
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Artefacts from the "Nanhai Number One" on display at the Marine Silk Road
Museum in Yangjiang city, south Chinas Guangdong province,
Sept 29, 2014 [Credit: People.cn] |
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Vase and cup from the "Nanhai Number One" on display at the Marine Silk Road
Museum in Yangjiang city, south Chinas Guangdong province,
Sept 29, 2014 [Credit: People.cn] |
The salvage of "Nanhai Number One" did not begin until 2007 due to many technical difficulties, and then it was moved to Maritime Silk Road Museum of Guangdong, which was especially constructed for its perseveration.
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Gold bracelet unearthed from the wrecked ship belonging to the
Song Dynasty "Nanhai Number One" [Credit: Xinhua] |
At the end of 2013, the full-scale excavation of "Nanhai Number One" started, and so far 623 porcelain samples, 107 gold wares, 5,000 bronze coins, and many other cultural relics have been extracted from the wreck.
Source: China Daily [December 05, 2014]
