Archaeologists have struck gold beneath the waves! 🌊 Over 900 artifacts from two Ming Dynasty shipwrecks (1368-1644) were recovered in a groundbreaking deep-sea mission, China's National Cultural Heritage Administration revealed.
The relics – including porcelain vases, copper coins, and even deer antlers – were found 1,500 meters deep (that's 4x the Eiffel Tower's height! 🗼) near the South China Sea's northwest continental slope. The three-year operation involved multiple research institutes and a Hainan-based museum team.
Shipwreck No. 1 delivered 890 pieces of maritime history, while No. 2 revealed 38 artifacts including rare tropical lumber. This discovery could rewrite our understanding of ancient trade routes 🗺️ – think of it as the Amazon Prime of the 15th century, but with more silk and ceramics!
Fun fact: The turban shells found might've been ancient bling 💎 or even currency. Researchers are now studying whether these wrecks represent inbound and outbound trade paths – a Tinder swipe right between Eastern and Western civilizations. 👉👈
