On September 21, 2022, Marine Trade Pearl — Exhibition of Underwater Archaeological Achievements of Yuan Dynasty Shipwrecks at Shengbeiyu Site (meaning the “Grail Island” in Chinese) was opened at the Zhangzhou City Museum, Fujian Province, bringing back the prosperity of maritime trade in ancient China.
Full-scale underwater archaeological excavation of the Shengbeiyu site in Zhangzhou began on August 25th, 2022. Located at the southeast of Gu Lei port in Zhangzhou, the site is one of the well-preserved Yuan dynasty shipwreck sites found in China. It lies on the junction of Nanyang route and Dongyang route (through which ships from Fujian Province and Taiwan Province can reach the Philippines) of traditional Maritime Silk Road.
Through archaeologists’ research, goods on ships in Shengbeiyu site are mainly Longquan celadon in great quantities and categories, including high-value masterpieces which are typical representatives of ocean trade of the Yuan dynasty. The excavation of this site will provide important archaeological documents for studying Southeast Asia transportation and trade in the middle and late Yuan dynasty, exports of Longquan celadon, and Maritime Silk Road in the Yuan dynasty.
Source: Chinanews.com
Photo Credit: Zhangzhou City Museum, Fujian Province