Norwegian Archaeologists Recover Porcelain and Chandeliers from 18th Century Shipwreck
Discovery and Recovery of 18th Century Shipwreck Artifacts
Overview of the Find
OSLO, June 1 (Reuters) - Archaeologists have recovered a trove of Chinese porcelain and European-made goods from a recently discovered 18th-century shipwreck off the coast of Norway, government and museum officials said on Monday.
Details of the Artifacts
Types of Goods Recovered
Among the goods found in the remains of the unnamed sailing ship were tightly stacked white and blue porcelain bowls as well as goblets, textiles, grain and parts of chandeliers, the Norwegian Maritime Museum said.
Location and Depth of the Shipwreck
The ship, believed to have sunk around the mid-1700s, was found by the owner of a salvage firm in the Skagerrak strait off southern Norway, at a depth of some 600 metres (2,000 feet), the museum said.
Significance of the Discovery
Scientific and Technological Value
"This find is not only extraordinary, it's also of considerable scientific value and demonstrates an important technological advancement in underwater archaeology," Norway's Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, said in a statement.
Ongoing Research
The vessel's origin and destination are unknown, but work is ongoing to learn more about the wreck and its cargo, the Maritime Museum said.
Additional Information
($1 = 9.2508 Norwegian crowns)
(Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
