Ancient Shipwrecks Discovered in the Waters of Xi Sha Islands

Abstract

AbstractXi Sha Islands is the main artery seaway from ancient China to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. Maritime trade were quite prosperous. Since 20th century, archaeologists have carried out many archaeological investigations and excavations in the waters of Xi Sha Islands, and discovered numbers of ancient shipwrecks and underwater cultural relic sites. The shipwrecks in the Xi Sha waters can be dated from Five Dynasties to late Qing Dynasty. Amongst, the most frequent chronology periods include the late Northern Song Dynasty, Southern Song Dynasty, late Yuan Dynasty, middle Ming Dynasty, late Ming Dynasty and middle and late Qing Dynasty, which reflects the characteristics of Xi Sha trade routes in different periods. Most of the artefacts found from the wreck sites are Chinese ceramics. The majority are products made in kilns of south China. The ancient Chinese export ceramics have unique characteristics in different periods in terms of categories. The shipping destination is Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, east coast of Africa, Europe and even America. The formation of the trade mode is obviously influenced by China’s maritime trade policies, reflecting the changes of the Maritime Silk Road along the Xi Sha Islands, as well as the changes of overseas trade and ports in different periods.KeywordsXisha IslandsUnderwater archaeologyShipwreckTrade ceramicsMaritime Silk Road