Da Nang: After storm No. 13, an ancient ship appeared on the coast of Hoi An.

Although there is no definitive dating result, the data shows that the shipwreck most likely dates between the late 14th and 16th centuries.

On November 8, many people walking along Tan Thanh beach, Hoi An Tay ward, Da Nang city were surprised to see a hundreds-year-old wooden ship appear on the beach.

Upon receiving the information, the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center and functional forces arrived to protect the scene and verify the origin of the ship.

According to locals, the ship was first discovered in 2023. After the recent storm No. 13, the sand covering the beach was significantly washed away. When the water receded, the ship appeared with its clearest shape ever.

The location where the ship was discovered is close to the shore with the mainland about 400m from the People's Committee of Cam An Ward (old) towards An Bang beach. The wooden frame surrounding the body of the ship is raised above the sand, forming a shape around the body of the ship.

In 2024, the Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Center coordinated with experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University) to research the sunken ship.

The report found that the sunken wooden ship was large and of sturdy construction, combining Southeast Asian and Chinese shipbuilding traditions.

The ship was made of Lagerstroemia and Euphorbia wood from Southeast Asia and Chinese pine, and was sealed with a sealant to prevent seawater intrusion.

These important features allowed ships to undertake long voyages such as commercial operations at sea or even naval warfare.

Scientists believe the sunken ship is likely more than 17.8m long, with about 12 compartments.

To date, although there have been no results to determine the absolute age, the data shows that it is highly likely that the shipwreck dates from the late 14th to the 16th century.

Notably, scientists believe that the shipwreck in Hoi An could be an ancient treasure because it was discovered in a nearly intact state. Thanks to the luck of history, the wooden ship still retains its structure quite intact, while many traditional ships discovered in the East Sea, Southeast Asia and in China do not have this luck.

The existence of the shipwreck is not only a testament to the vibrant maritime history before contact with Western maritime navigation, but also an extremely rare ancient ship "treasure" that is still the most intact in Vietnam, Southeast Asia and East Asia," the report stated.

After this report, the specialized agency proposed a solution to protect the site and plan an excavation to continue the research. However, while the work was being promoted, sand buried the location of the ship, causing everything to be lost for about half a year.

Previously, the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center proposed a detailed plan and solution for the excavation and conservation of the ship and the collected artifacts to ensure their integrity./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/da-nang-sau-bao-so-13-xuat-hien-tau-co-dat-o-bo-bien-hoi-an-post1075832.vnp