Chinese archaeologists explore Shanhu Island in South China Sea

A Chinese archaeological team has begun exploration of a shipwreck near Shanhu Island in the Xisha archipelago in the disputed South China Sea.

Chinese archaelogists prepare for a underwater exploration of the Shanhu Island 
No. 1 shipwreck in the Xisha archipelago in South China Sea, May 13, 2015. The sites
 contain a substantial amount of stone building material and carvings dating back
 to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) [Credit: Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan]

This is the second notable landmark underwater archaeological excavation in the South China Sea following the Huaguang reef number one shipwreck in 2008 in the Xisha Islands where a vessel loaded with porcelain sank more than 700 years ago.

Xisha is the Chinese name for Paracel islands is also claimed by Vietnam.

Photo taken on May 13, 2015 shows the stone sculptures discoverd in the Shanhu Island
 No. 1 shipwreck in South China Sea. The sites contain a substantial amount of stone
 building material and carvings dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) 
[Credit: Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan]

China’s claim over most of the South China Sea is contested by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The team will also carry out an underwater survey on another sunken ship around Jinyin Island in Xisha, the spokesman said.

Photo taken on May 12, 2015 shows the workboat of a Chinese archaeological team 
for the exploring of the Shanhu Island No. 1 shipwreck in the Xisha archipelago
 in the South China Sea. The sites contain a substantial amount of stone building
 material and carvings dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)
 [Credit: Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan]

The sites contain a substantial amount of stone building material and carvings dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The Shanhu Island site, which is 2,000 meters from the island itself, covers about 20,000 square meters, with the water depth ranging from two to seven meters.

Chinese archaelogists check the sediment on a sculpture discoverd near Shanhu Island
 in the Xisha archipelago in the South China Sea, May 13, 2015. The sites contain
 a substantial amount of stone building material and carvings dating back 
to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) [Credit: Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan]

Another site, which is 2,500 meters from Jinyin Island, covers about 45,000 square meters, at a depth ranging from three to nine meters.

As of last year, China had discovered more than 120 shipwrecks around Xisha, Nansha and Zhongsha islands, the report said.

Source: Xinhua News [May 15, 2015]