From July 20 to 21, CCTV10 Science and Education Channel successively broadcast "Exploration · Discovery | Archaeology in Progress Season 1 Zhangzhou Yuan Dynasty Shipwreck Underwater Archaeology", revealing the details of underwater archaeological work to the audience.
Source: from CCTV 10
The sea area of Holy Grail Island, located on the east side of Gulei Peninsula in Zhangzhou, Fujian, is known as "the pole of the eight Fujians and the key point of Chaozhang". Since ancient times, it has been an important passage from south to north, and it is also a dangerous area with many reefs. More than 700 years ago, a Yuan Dynasty cargo ship loaded with porcelain sank here. It was not until 2010 when Typhoon "Siluriformes" landed in the waters near Gulei Peninsula that fishermen found sporadic porcelain during salvage, and then unveiled its mystery.
At the end of May 2023, a joint archaeological team composed of multiple units including the Archaeological Research Center of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Fujian Provincial Institute of Archaeology and the Zhangzhou Cultural Relics Protection Center conducted the second year of underwater archaeological excavations on the Holy Grail Island's Yuan Dynasty cargo ship.
Source: from CCTV 10
The Yuan Dynasty shipwreck site is located at a depth of about 30 meters on the seabed. Due to the complex situation of the shipwreck site, there are still many porcelains buried deep in the cabin waiting to be unearthed. The task of the archaeological divers is to extract all the cultural relics buried in the silt in the shipwreck.
Source: from CCTV 10
After the efforts of the archaeological divers, the current status of the shipwreck site has been clearly presented. The remaining length of the shipwreck is about 17 meters, and the cabin is filled with piles of porcelain bowls, porcelain plates, high-footed cups and other types of porcelain, totaling more than 16,000 pieces.
Source: from CCTV 10
Underwater archaeology is an extension of field archaeology in the ocean, rivers, lakes and waters. Due to the natural difference in working environment between underwater and field, archaeologists need to go to the ocean or waters to excavate and investigate underwater cultural heritage, so the safety management measures for underwater archaeological operations are extremely important.
When conducting underwater archaeological operations, the joint archaeological team integrated a system combining multidisciplinary and multi-technical means, including the underwater communication and navigation system of Ocean Plan, which can monitor the position changes of underwater divers in real time, effectively manage the working status of divers, grasp the diving activities, ensure the safety of underwater divers, and effectively improve the efficiency of underwater archaeological operations.
Source: from CCTV 10
Underwater archaeological divers wear dive navigation computers Navygator - Pro or dive navigation computers Navygator - M, and surface commanders deploy control center Commander-10 to build a 3D wireless communication positioning network that combines water and underwater, and realize real-time positioning navigation, text communication transmission, SOS alarms, and abnormal status warnings.
In the process of exploring underwater cultural relics, divers can immediately feedback the clues of the discovered cultural relics to surface commanders or other divers. If divers encounter a location that requires special marking, they can also mark it by laying underwater beacons Mark-7/ Mark-90 to ensure that the clues of the cultural relics are accurately protected.
With the deepening of archaeological work, more and more porcelain and other cultural relics have been discovered and properly preserved, providing us with a new perspective to understand the prosperity of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
The program "Exploration · Discovery" not only allows more people to understand the charm and challenges of underwater archaeology, but also reveals the practical significance of innovative technology to underwater archaeological work, and promotes the deep integration of science and technology with humanities.
Source: from CCTV 10
Watch "Exploration · Discovery | Archaeology in Progress Season 1 Zhangzhou Yuan Dynasty Shipwreck Underwater Archaeology" and start a wonderful journey of exploring history and technology!