Archaeologists have unearthed a 150-year-old mysterious shipwreck brimming with various treasures from the depths of the Yangtze river in China, Asia's longest body of water, reported first by Mirror and DNA.
The 125-foot-long Yangtze Estuary No. 2 is one of the largest and most exquisite antique wooden shipwrecks ever discovered in China.
KEY LARGO, FL - JULY 12: In this handout photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, divers swim at the shipwreck Spiegel Grove in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary July 12, 2005 in Key Largo, Florida. Since it was fully scuttled June 10, 2002, the decommissioned Navy Landing Ship Dock has rested on its starboard side. However, July 11, 2005 divers discovered the ship had rolled upright, likely due to waves produced by Hurricane Dennis off the southeast coast of Cuba, according to a National Weather Service official.
Exquisite Cultural Artifacts
Mirror reports that a team of archaeologists found exquisite cultural artifacts aboard the sunken ship, including Chinese bowls and pots that were meticulously decorated.
The hull's interior and surroundings were found to have a wealth of cultural artifacts, such as purple clay objects, iron anchors, and fragments of Vietnamese hookah tanks.
An official from the China National Cultural Heritage Administration said that the ship's excellent condition and the range of ancient items found onboard are extremely significant for research into the history of shipbuilding, shipping, and pottery manufacturing in China and the world in general.
Restoring the Ancient Ship
After seven years of deep ocean archaeological investigation and discovery, experts just began to observe the sunken ship in 2015 completely. But on November 21, the ancient shipwreck was restored to the surface for the first time.
The three-hour recovery mission raised the ship from the ocean floor using 22 gigantic steel arched beams.
This totaled more than 8,000 tonnes, according to Global Times. The investigation's sonar scan revealed that the ship is 33 feet wide and had 31 cabins.
In addition, the researchers were able to confirm that the sailing ship was a remnant of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, which lasted from 1862 to 1875.
Read also: Archaeologists Discover Signs of Ancient Human Civilization in the Depths of Lake Constance
Flat-Bottomed Vessel
The ship was most likely used as a flat-bottomed vessel, primarily for transportation and trade. Experts further claim that the ship was discovered in 5.5 meters of water in shallow water at the northeastern tip of Hengsha Island in Shanghai's Chongming district.
The enormous wooden ship will be transported to shore at the site of the ancient Shanghai Shipyard in the Yangpu district, where more investigation and preservation tasks will be conducted.
A museum of sunken ships is also planned to be built on the archaeological site as part of the city's five-year cultural heritage protection plan.
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Written by Jace Dela Cruz
