On July 18, the Zhong Guo Ke Kao 01 docks at Sanya Wharf. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Zhong Guo Kao Gu 01, or China Archaeology 01, China's first underwater archaeological ship, docked in Sanya on July 17, marking the end of the underwater archaeological survey project in the Beijiao sea area off the Xisha Islands in 2022. The project started on June 6 and lasted for more than 40 days.

In this underwater archaeological project, 331 cultural relic specimens were collected from different remains, such as ceramics, glassware, copper coins, and copper nails. The ship will return to its home port in Qingdao on July 19.

The underwater archaeological work project was conducted in accordance with the unified deployment of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, under the management of the Hainan Provincial Department of Culture, Radio, Film, Television, Publications and Sports. It was jointly organized by the Archaeological Research Center of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Sansha tourism, culture and transportation bureau, as well as the China (Hainan) Museum of the South China Sea.

The analysis of the history of the cultural relics excavated from the water will provide important physical data for the research on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, as well as the shipping routes, foreign trade, and export porcelain of that time.

Since Zhong Guo Kao Gu 01 was put into use in 2014, it has gone to Liaoning, Hainan, Guangdong, Shandong, Hebei, and other provinces to carry out underwater archaeological works, which has improved the capability and technical level of China's underwater archaeological work.