Shipwreck in Hoi An may be the most unique and unprecedented ancient ship treasure in Vietnam

Image of the upper part of the shipwreck mentioned in the scientific report - Photo: BD

According to initial information, the ship is suspected to be an ancient ship dating back hundreds of years. Not only is there a sunken ship, but there may be another similar ship lying nearby.

Treasures of ancient ships in Southeast Asia?

On May 7, a leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province said that he was asking agencies to monitor and protect the site where the sunken wooden ship was discovered at Hoi An beach in late 2023.

The Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center also reported the results of research on the ship conducted by this unit in collaboration with experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University).

The report said the sunken wooden ship was large in size and had a strong structure, combining Southeast Asian and Chinese shipbuilding traditions.

The ship was made of Lagerstroemia and Euphorbia wood from Southeast Asia and pine from China; a sealant was used to prevent the penetration of seawater.

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

Scientists also determined that the sunken ship is likely over 17.8m long with about 12 compartments.

Regarding the ship's age, although there are no absolute dating results yet, 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 an almost 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 "treasure" of an ancient ship that is still the most intact preserved in Vietnam, Southeast Asia and East Asia," the investigation report stated.

Information about the sunken ship - Photo: BD

Is there another shipwreck lying nearby?

Through information from local fishermen and artifacts around the scene, scientists believe that it is very likely that in the sea area from Tan Thanh to Cua Dai, about 1km from the water's edge, at a depth of about 14 - 15m, there is another sunken ship.

The remains of this ship may be mainly Zhangzhou ceramics and some from Dehua, cast iron pans with a dating frame focusing on around 1560 to the 1630s in the late Ming Dynasty.

As for the shipwreck being investigated, scientists believe that although some components have rotted, when excavated, the possibility of restoring the ship's structure is very high.

The location where the shipwreck once appeared is now filled with sand again - Photo: BD

"Currently, no relics have been discovered in the ship, but the existence of the ship relatively intact is the most important and unique ship heritage in Vietnam. Up to now, no ship has been discovered with a structure preserved quite intact like this wooden ship.

The shipwreck discovered this time is unique physical evidence proving a period of bustling trade in the East Sea as part of the "Sea Trade Route".

The discovery of the shipwreck is not only an important archaeological find, opening up opportunities for research into maritime and trade history.

It also shows that the ship is a valuable maritime cultural heritage of Vietnam, contributing to enriching the cultural heritage treasure in Hoi An - a world cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO" - the report stated.

Quang Nam province cautious about shipwreck

A leader of the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the research information about the shipwreck in Hoi An sea is just the beginning. The Quang Nam cultural sector is carefully monitoring and waiting for the official report. Currently, the shipwreck is still in the place where it was discovered and cannot be excavated yet.

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , at the end of 2023, some people in Hoi An, while walking on the beach, discovered the frame of a previously sunken wooden ship floating on the sand in Cam An ward. The incident was reported to the authorities.

Since then, the government and cultural sector of Quang Nam have organized many activities such as researching the ship's history, inviting experts to evaluate information... The ship is also strictly protected.

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Thai Ba Dung

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tau-dam-o-hoi-an-co-the-la-mot-bao-vat-tau-co-chua-tung-co-doc-dao-nhat-viet-nam-20250507111909734.htm