The largest-ever exhibition of 500 artifacts from sunken vessels dating from the 15th to 18th century will take place at the Vietnam National Museum of History from January 18 to May 18.

For the first time, visitors will have the opportunity to admire a massive amount of ceramic artifacts taken from ancient ships found in the waters near Binh Thuan, Hon Dam, Cu Lao Cham, Hon Cau, and Ca Mau. 

Nearly 500 artifacts, mostly goods on ancient merchant boats, have been discovered in the East Sea and their display presents an overview of Vietnam’s underwater archaeological achievements, Vietnamese and Asian ceramics, and the “Silk Road” (207BC-220AD) on the sea.

The exhibition is divided into four themes: Vietnamese seas and sea trade; Vietnamese commercial ceramics; The Silk Road on the Sea; and ships excavated from Vietnam’s seabed.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Museum Director, it has been nearly 30 years since the first ship, Hon Cau, was discovered off the coast of Ba Ria Vung Tau in 1990 and excavated. Dozens of other ancient vessels have also been discovered under the East Sea.

“The waters in the area of Phu Quoc Island (Kien Giang province) and Binh Chau Beach (Quang Ngai province) are considered shipwreck areas,” he said. 

“People have discovered traces of dozens of ancient ships in these areas. But so far, only five ancient ships have been researched and unearthed by the Museum, bringing many invaluable materials and artifacts.”

With 240,000 diverse artifacts salvaged, the ship discovered near Cu Lao Cham gave the museum a large number of valuable artifacts. The ancient vessel was excavated underwater from 1997 to 2000. 

The most noteworthy thing is that scientists excavated eleven remains of merchants and crew members on board. Vietnamese ceramic ware was discovered on the ship, diverse in type, enamel and decorative patterns.

In the ancient ship found near Binh Thuan (excavated in 2001 and 2002), archaeologists obtained more than 60,000 artifacts, most of which were blue and white ceramics, as well as a significant amount of colored porcelain.

At the archaeological site near Hon Dam, about 16,000 Thai pottery artifacts were found buried within the sand. Scientists have also unearthed brown and ivory-glazed ceramics as well as some antiques made from copper.

The ancient ship found near Ca Mau was excavated at a depth of 35 meters and was about 24 meters long and nearly eight meters wide. 

Collected artifacts totaled more than 60,000, most of which were blue and white enamel ware and multi-colored enamel pottery made by Chinese during the Ung Chinh Dynasty (1723-1735).

VN Economic Times