Archaeologists discover treasure dating back centuries from shipwreck 5,000 feet underwater

A huge amount of treasure has been found on two shipwrecks in the South China Sea.

In October 2022, Chinese archaeologists came across the wreckage of two ships dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

A excavation was then conducted between 2023 and 2024, and it seems as if the hard work of research institutes and a local museum has paid off as nearly 900 pieces of treasure have been discovered.

A submersible was used as part of the excavation. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

One the first shipwreck, a whopping 890 pieces of relic were excavated, while on the second shipwreck 38 artifacts were found.

These precious artifacts range from pottery and porcelain, to turban shells and deer antlers.

A submersible called 'Shenhai Yongshi' was used in their excavation efforts, according to the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China.

Guan Qiang, deputy head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said in a statement last week: "The discovery provides evidence that Chinese ancestors developed, utilized and traveled to and from the South China Sea, with the two shipwrecks serving as important witnesses to trade and cultural exchanges along the ancient Maritime Silk Road."

The shipwrecks date back thousands of years. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

The Ming Dynasty was a huge period for China, with the country's population doubling during their rule, History.com reports.

It's best known for its trade expansion to the outside world that established cultural ties with the West.

It was also well-known for its impressive porcelain, making the recent excavation even more exciting.

The porcelain's made by grinding china-stone, mixing it with china-clay and then baking until translucent.

And, as I'm sure you can imagine, the thousands of years old treasures can be sold for a lot of money.

Ming Dynasty porcelain has previously been sold for millions of dollars. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

In 2023, a set of four 16th century Ming Dynasty wucai dishes sold for £63,000 ($79,800) at auction in the UK - more than ten times its original guide price.

Speaking at the time of the sale, the auction house's owner said, as per BBC News: "What made the four dishes which achieved £63,000 particularly special was the fact they'd remained together as a set.

"They may have been used as altar pieces in a Chinese monastery or temple. They probably came to England after the First or Second World War."

Meanwhile, a Ming Dynasty vase has previously sold for a staggering $22 million. At the time of the sale, it broke the world record for the price paid for porcelain from the Ming Dynasty.

The newly discovered treasures aren't thought to have been evaluated yet.

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