VietNamNet Bridge - To preserve the underwater cultural heritage in Binh Chau, Quang Ngai, authorities have assigned Doan Anh Duong Co., Ltd. to expand the survey area to look for other ancient ships in the surrounding area of the 700-year-old wreck.

The 700-year-old wreck in pictures

The 700-year-old wreck in Binh Chau.

During the excavation of about 4,000 artifacts dating back to the 13th century from the wreck in the waters of Binh Chau commune in Quang Ngai province, experts found pieces of broken pottery dating from the 15th century.

"These ceramic pieces are not artifacts inside the 700-year-old ship. They may come from another ancient ship in the neighborhood," said Dr. Nguyen Dinh Chien, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Museum of History.

Related to this issue, Mr. Doan Sung, the advisor of Doan Anh Duong Co., Ltd. said in parallel to extending the excavation within 300 m2 around the 700-year-old ship, Quang Ngai authorities have allowed the company to search for other ancient ships that sank in Binh Chau from many centuries ago.

According to a government-approved plan, the Dung Quat 2 deep-water port will be built in Binh Chau. In this situation, the Department of Culture Sports and Tourism of Quang Ngai province has proposed to conduct urgent archaeological surveys and excavation in this area to preserve underwater cultural heritage.

Dr. Doan Ngoc Khoi, Deputy Director of the Quang Ngai Museum said in 1999, Quang Ngai Museum in collaboration with Visal Company conducted archaeological exploration and excavation of a wreck in the waters of Chau Tan village, Binh Chau commune.

They collected several hundreds of kilos of artifacts, mainly ceramics, bronze and stone items dating back to the 15th-17th centuries. The ancient ship is 20 meters from the shore, at a depth of 4.5 m, about 500m to the north of the 700-year-old vessel.

Also in 1999, the authorities found several pieces of broken pottery from shipwrecks in Hon Nhan, 1 km to the southeast of the 700-year-old ship.

"Based on the pottery pieces of different dates found in the waters of Binh Chau, we can say that there are some other ancient ships in this area and we should continue to search and excavate for heritage conservation," said Dr. Khoi.

Thanh Ha