On the morning of June 30, 2005, an ordinary day took an extraordinary turn for archaeologist Li Jian’an. A simple text message read:
“Good morning, Professor Li. I just got a call about an ancient shipwreck discovered off the coast of Pingtan. It’s full of porcelain, and villagers are taking them away. They refuse to give more details…”
Alarm bells rang. Within hours, a team of archaeologists, cultural heritage officials, and local authorities raced to the scene. What they saw was nothing short of chaos—dozens of fishing boats swarming the small patch of ocean, illegally salvaging artifacts in broad daylight. The recovered porcelain pieces immediately confirmed their fears: they had stumbled upon a major underwater archaeological site. The discovery was swiftly reported to the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and soon, the coast guard, border patrol, and marine surveillance teams cracked down on the looting. The situation was momentarily under control, but the true battle had only just begun.
A Ship from Three Centuries Past
The discovery site was near Wan Jiao, a reef cluster off the coast of Pingtan County, Fujian. The name “Wan Jiao” (Bowl Reef) was no coincidence—generations of local fishermen had reported porcelain bowls surfacing in the area. According to their age-old beliefs, taking artifacts from the sea would anger the ocean gods, so anything they retrieved was thrown back. But this time, curiosity got the better of them. Instead of following tradition, they hired local divers to investigate. What they found was astonishing—an entire sunken ship.
Word spread like wildfire. Treasure hunters descended upon the site, turning the once-quiet fishing village into a lawless gold rush. Plates, bowls, vases, and jars were hoisted up, only to be carelessly handled, many shattering in the process. The wooden skeleton of the 17th-century sailing vessel, which had rested undisturbed for 300 years, was rudely awakened. Experts estimated that over 20,000 artifacts had been looted—an irreversible loss to history.
Following standard naming conventions, the wreck was designated as the Wan Jiao No. 1 Shipwreck of Pingtan, Fujian. Typically, underwater excavations take place from March to June, the ideal diving season, but the rampant looting forced archaeologists to act immediately. On July 10, 2005, an emergency rescue excavation was launched. The effort faced relentless obstacles—five typhoons interrupted operations, and looters took advantage of stormy weather, sneaking in when patrol boats returned to harbor for safety. At one point, archaeologists found themselves in a life-or-death standoff, armed only with their wits and determination, against treasure hunters wielding knives and firearms.
Despite the odds, their perseverance paid off. The excavation uncovered the ship’s remnants—13.5 meters long, 3 meters wide, and 1 meter high. Experts estimated the original vessel to be about 20 meters long, a mid-sized cargo ship used for coastal trade. Over 17,000 pieces of porcelain were recovered, shockingly well-preserved. Unlike typical shipwreck porcelain, often corroded by seawater, these artifacts emerged as pristine as the day they were fired.
Porcelain Fit for an Emperor (and Foreign Merchants)
The recovered artifacts were traced to the Kangxi period (1662–1722) of the Qing Dynasty, primarily blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen’s civilian kilns. The collection also included wucai (five-color porcelain), underglaze red, monochrome-glazed ceramics, and an intriguing selection of “Kraak porcelain”—a style specifically produced for the European market, decorated with intricate exotic patterns.
But why did this ship sink? Piecing together clues, archaeologists developed a theory:
- The area’s maritime routes have remained largely unchanged for centuries, and the region is notorious for hidden reefs.
- The eastern section of the ship carried large, upright porcelain vessels, such as jars, vases, and incense burners. However, porcelain was also found scattered to the south of the wreck.
- This suggests the ship tilted southward as it sank, likely after striking a reef in a storm.
And just like that, a 300-year-old mystery started to unravel.
China’s Leap into Underwater Archaeology
Unlike traditional archaeology, underwater exploration is a battle against the elements. The global field of underwater archaeology took off in the mid-20th century, led by pioneers like Jacques Cousteau. China, however, only started its journey in the 1980s, triggered by two shocking events:
- The Hatcher Scandal (1985) – A British treasure hunter named Michael Hatcher illegally salvaged and auctioned off thousands of Chinese artifacts, making millions in the process. Even more devastating, he destroyed hundreds of thousands of porcelain pieces deemed unprofitable. This prompted a national wake-up call.
- The Discovery of the Nanhai No. 1 Shipwreck (1987) – The Chinese government launched an official underwater archaeology program, marking the birth of the discipline in China.
Since then, China has unearthed over 200 underwater heritage sites, piecing together an invaluable maritime history. Among the most famous finds:
- Nanhai No. 1 (Southern Song Dynasty) – Over 180,000 artifacts, including porcelain from top kilns and even 3,105 preserved seeds and fruits from centuries ago.
- Xiaobaijiao No. 1 (Daoguang Period, Qing Dynasty) – A Southeast Asian-built merchant ship, revealing deep trade ties between China and its southern neighbors.
- The Beiyang Fleet Wrecks (1894, First Sino-Japanese War) – The legendary ironclad battleships Zhiyuan, Jingyuan, and Dingyuan, sunken relics of a naval battle that changed Chinese history.
The Harsh Reality of Underwater Archaeology
Diving into the deep isn’t just physically demanding—it’s a constant fight against nature. Archaeologists working on Wan Jiao No. 1 recounted their struggles:
- Raging Currents – Underwater currents often reached 50-60 cm/s, making even standing still a challenge.
- Zero Visibility – After storms, the water turned into an inky abyss, forcing archaeologists to rely on touch and memory to reconstruct the ship’s structure.
- Sensory Deprivation – Blood doesn’t appear red underwater—it turns blue-gray, meaning injuries often go unnoticed. Sound travels four times faster, creating a deafening environment where even a small noise feels like an explosion.
- Heavy Equipment – Divers carried 20–30 kg of gear, maintaining focus while clearing debris, recording data, and documenting every detail with precision.
One archaeologist, Lin Guo, explained it best:
“People often ask, ‘Why do treasure hunters work so fast while you archaeologists take forever?’ The answer is simple: archaeology isn’t about grabbing valuable items—it’s about reconstructing history. We don’t just salvage objects; we salvage stories.”
A Conversation with History
Underwater archaeologists aren’t just explorers; they are time travelers, detectives, and guardians of the past. The sea may be harsh and unforgiving, but buried beneath its depths lie whispers of long-forgotten voyages, untold trade routes, and the silent echoes of those who came before us.
In the grand scheme of history, a century is but a moment. But in that moment, through the murky waters and shifting tides, archaeologists continue their dialogue—not just with the ocean, but with time itself.