Over 100 Cultural Relics Salvaged From Ming Dynasty Shipwreck
By admin on 2015-01-07

Over 100 cultural relics have been salvaged from the "Nan'ao No. One," a Ming Dynasty merchant vessel, since archaeological teams began salvage operations on April 9, 2010.

Reporters learned that on April 10, underwater archaeological teams retrieved the muddy cultural relics scattered throughout the shipwreck and salvaged over 100 of them. Most relics are blue and white porcelain objects from the late Ming Dynasty, including bowls and plates of various sizes. The archeological excavation is currently ongoing.

The sunken vessel is about 27 meters below the water surface, and its superstructure has been destroyed, though the compartments and boards are still in good condition. Because the ship has long been covered by silt and large coagulations, the hull and cultural relics have been well-protected and less affected by corrosion and man-made sabotage.

There are a large number of blue and white porcelain relics on the ship, and they mainly include dishes, bowls, pots, plates, washbowls, alms bowls, lids, cups, vases and powder boxes. In addition, most of the relics were painted with pictures of human figures, flowers and animals.