By IANS,
Beijing : More than 30,000 antiques will be salvaged from an ancient merchant vessel that sank 500 years ago off the coast of southeast China’s Guangdong province.
On the conclusion of the underwater archaeological mission from the Nan’ao-1 vessel, the antiques will be exhibited in the Nan’ao Museum in Shantou, Xinhua reported.
Archaeologists, who will also measure the length of the wreck, had previously recovered over 20,000 antiques, including porcelain items and copper coins, and identified 25 cabins.
The ship sank in the waters off Nan’ao county during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Guangdong was a major centre for sea trade in ancient China.
Local fishermen found the wrecked ship, 25 metres long and seven metres wide, in May 2007. It was buried in silt 27 metres underwater and about 11 km from the coast.