Espen Saastad Finds 18th-Century Wreck 1,970 Feet Down With Preserved Chinese Porcelain
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 12
Espen Saastad Finds 18th-Century Wreck 1,970 Feet Down With Preserved Chinese Porcelain
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 12
Summary
Norwegian researchers say the wreck in the Skagerrak Strait holds one of Northern Europe’s best-preserved 18th-century cargoes, with stacks of undamaged Chinese porcelain visible on the seabed.
Espen Saastad, a watch designer who runs a small ROV survey company, found the ship about 1,970 feet below the surface off Norway’s southeastern coast.
Large quantities of porcelain, chandeliers, goblets, bottles and grain barrels have been identified, while unopened crates may still contain textiles, tea, herbs, medicines and other organic material.
A stamped galley brick from Lübeck—where the brickworks operated until 1772—offers one clue to the ship’s origins, though researchers still do not know its route or destination.
Officials say modern trawlers damaged parts of the wreck, but its main value now is as a protected cultural monument that will eventually be exhibited at Oslo’s Norwegian Maritime Museum.
Beyond priceless porcelain, what lost stories of the ship's crew does this underwater time capsule hide?
What secrets of 18th-century global trade will this perfectly preserved ghost ship finally reveal?
How will modern drones recover a priceless porcelain cargo from its 270-year-old deep-sea tomb?
18th-Century Porcelain Wreck Reveals Secrets of Early Global Commerce and Maritime Trade
Overview
The Porcelain Shipwreck, recently discovered and now exhibited at the Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo, offers visitors a rare glimpse into 18th-century maritime trade. Many artifacts, including a nearly intact cup believed to be from Jingdezhen, China, are astonishingly well-preserved. This deep-sea find acts as a time capsule, revealing the vast reach of global commerce centuries ago and shedding light on a pivotal era in European history. The exhibition connects the remarkable preservation of these artifacts to the broader story of international trade and cultural exchange during a transformative period.