Ancient shipwrecks in Hoi An appear simultaneously in international media

Severe coastal erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi has exposed a centuries-old shipwreck in Vietnam, opening up a rare opportunity to salvage what experts say could be a historically significant discovery.

First discovered in 2023 off the coast of Hoi An , the 17-meter-long ship – with its wooden hull that had survived hundreds of years of rough seas almost completely intact – sank again before authorities could salvage it.

PHOTO: QUOC VIET

Experts have yet to determine the age of the shipwreck, but initial findings suggest it was built between the 14th and 16th centuries - when Hoi An, a UNESCO world heritage site, was at the center of a prosperous silk, ceramics and spice trade area.

"We are now preparing to apply for an emergency excavation permit," Pham Phu Ngoc, director of the Hoi An World Heritage Conservation Centre, told AFP on Monday as the shipwreck emerged after Typhoon Kalmaegi last week.

"The discovery of this ancient ship is clear evidence of Hoi An's important historical role in regional trade," he said, adding that this time more parts of the ship have been discovered, "which can provide us with more information."

A team of experts from the Hoi An Conservation Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities and a local museum surveyed the shipwreck last year.

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PHOTO: MANH CUONG

In addition to the rough estimate of its age, they also found that the ship was made of “durable and highly robust wood” and was reinforced with waterproof material to seal the joints.

"The structure of the ship shows that it is capable of long-distance voyages and could be used for maritime trade or naval operations," the Hoi An Center said in an earlier statement.

The artifact is at risk of "serious deterioration without immediate conservation measures", due to severe coastal erosion and the ship's frequent exposure to harsh weather conditions.

The wreck was still clearly visible on Monday, with many people gathering on the beach to admire its striking skeleton.

At the meeting to discuss the solution on November 11, the Hoi An World Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center proposed an emergency excavation using the " wet excavation " method. Specifically, using a pump to suck sand and water out combined with a water barrier system to protect the relics during the work. The excavation will be divided into two phases. Phase 1 is an emergency excavation, phase 2 will implement urgent preservation plans. The total proposed budget is about 5 billion VND (2.5 billion for relocation and emergency excavation; 2.5 billion VND for urgent preservation).

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xac-tau-co-o-hoi-an-xuat-hien-dong-loat-tren-truyen-thong-quoc-te-185251113112435605.htm