The 700-year-old ship was almost intact on the seabed

Although sunk under the Binh Chau sea, Binh Son district (Quang Ngai) for nearly 700 years, the ship containing artifacts is still intact, the rudder, the side and the bottom of the ship . making experts and scientists "very surprised ".

>>>Excavating boats carrying antiques in Quang Ngai

After nearly a month of making sand dikes and dikes, experts excavated ancient objects on the seabed by the same method as on the shore, collecting nearly 270 barrels (thousands of precious artifacts). At the same time, exposed on the seabed sand is a wooden ship almost intact after about 700 years of sunk in Binh Chau waters.

Picture 1 of The 700-year-old ship was almost intact on the seabed
The wreck of the ancient ship appeared intact after nearly 700 years of sinking in the seabed of Binh Chau, Binh Son district.(Photo: Tri Tin)

Dr Doan Ngoc Khoi, deputy director of Quang Ngai General Museum, said that the sunken ancient ship in Binh Chau waters revealed intact rudder, bottom and bottom of the ship, which was much earlier than many shipwrecks have been discovered in Vietnamese waters.

The ship is nearly 25m long, the bottom of the ship is 5m wide, but the width of the upper side is about 9m and it is sunk vertically. Stuck artifacts in 12 compartments are quite stable. The initial excavation results in the heart of the ship show that there are many models of high-value dragon-shaped carved ceramic plates. In addition, there are some crew items such as coins and weights in this ship.

"The wooden ship sinking in the bottom of Binh Chau sea has been nearly 700 years but still intact. It also contains many mysteries that amaze the research and archeology," said Dr. Khoi.

Picture 2 of The 700-year-old ship was almost intact on the seabed
Experts inspect antiquities excavated from shipwrecks in the waters of Binh Chau.(Photo: Tri Tin)

The steering committee unearthed Quang Ngai antiquities decided to change the initial salvage plan to preserve in-situ the ancient ship to promote the value of underwater cultural heritage in Binh Chau waters. Doan Anh Duong Co., Ltd has completed the excavation of "antiquities" inside the ship and is mobilizing a contingent of divers to salvage artifacts within 600m 2 around the shipwreck. It is expected that on July 15, archaeological excavations in Binh Chau sea will end.

Mr. Doan Sung, advisor of Doan Anh Duong Co., Ltd. shared that, compared to many surveys and excavations of shipwrecks in the sea areas of the country, the ship containing antiquities in Binh Chau is of great value."After the experts have finished processing, we will display the antiquities for visitors. The remains of the zoned, preserved ship in Binh Chau waters connect with the diving tour to create employment conditions. raise income for local people with the type of marine eco-tourism services, " Mr. Sung added.

Picture 3 of The 700-year-old ship was almost intact on the seabed
This 700-year-old ancient ship will be preserved in Binh Chau waters to create employment conditions, raise incomes for local people with tours and diving services.(Photo: A.Strictly)

On June 26, exchanging with PV, Dr. Nguyen Viet, director of the Center for Southeast Asian History affirmed that this is the first time in Asia, an ancient ship was discovered intact with a rare steering wheel cluster. .

"This ancient ship is a lively material for researchers of shipbuilding history, world trade exchange. It sank in this sea, which proved to be a busy trading place in the past, playing a role. important trade of the Asian region " , Dr. Viet affirmed.

According to Dr. Viet, researchers have long approached the history of boats through drawings, now the method of excavation of terrestrial sea-like artifacts in the Binh Chau Sea has been noted. Many interesting things. This is also the first time that experts directly touch the artifact, decoding many mysteries that are particularly important for the history of world ship research.