Marine archaeologists have uncovered remarkable artifacts from Korea's medieval past during underwater excavations off the west coast of South Korea. The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage has discovered bundles of ancient celadon bowls, wooden oars, and ship fragments believed to date back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) in waters near Taean, South Chungcheong Province.
The newly discovered relics were found half-buried in the soft seabed during a sonar survey conducted by the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage this year. The artifacts include numerous celadon pottery pieces and wooden vessel fragments that provide valuable insights into Korea's maritime history and ancient trade routes. The discovery adds to the growing collection of underwater archaeological finds in the region.
This latest discovery comes in addition to previous significant finds in the same waters. The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage has been conducting extensive underwater archaeological work in the area, uncovering multiple shipwrecks from different historical periods. The research has revealed the importance of these waters as ancient shipping lanes.
The most significant previous discovery in the region includes the only surviving wooden ship hull from the early Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), which is currently being salvaged from the waters off Taean. This cargo vessel was first discovered underwater in 2015 alongside approximately 150 pieces of "buncheong" stoneware, a type of traditional Korean pottery. Archaeological evidence suggests this particular ship sank around 1420, making it an extremely rare and valuable historical artifact.
Since 2009, the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage has systematically uncovered traces of three additional shipwrecks from the Goryeo Dynasty in the same waters. These discoveries have established the Taean coastal area as one of Korea's most important underwater archaeological sites, providing unprecedented insights into the country's medieval maritime activities and trade networks.
The ongoing underwater archaeological surveys continue to reveal new information about Korea's ancient seafaring traditions and the vessels that once traveled these waters centuries ago. These discoveries not only enhance understanding of Korea's maritime heritage but also contribute valuable knowledge to the broader field of East Asian maritime archaeology.
