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Maritime Archaeology

Location map
1976~90s
2000s
2010s
2020s

Location map of maritime cultural assets

The Underwater Excavations of the Sinan Shipwreck:
The Birth of the Korean Maritime Archaeology.

The 1970-90s was a period when Korean maritime archaeology was born and its foundations were beginning to be established. It was mostly fulfilled under the support of the Bureau of Cultural Properties (the present-day the Cultural Heritage Administration) and the National Maritime Relics Gallery (the present-day the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage) and led by the Korean Navy. In order to preserve Korea's first discovered shipwreck, the Sinan, the "Mokpo Conservation Shipyard" was built in Mokpo-si City, and the National Maritime Relics Gallery was established as a national institution for conducting surveys and excavations of maritime relics.

The start of the underwater excavation of the Sinan Shipwreck in 1976 marked the beginning of a new genre called "Korean Maritime Archaeology", and it is considered a key achievement not only in the history of archaeology in Korea, but also for global maritime archaeology. In the period around 1983 when the excavation of the Sinan Shipwreck was coming to an end, maritime investigation began in Jeju-do Island and Wando-gun County, which led to the discovery of a Goryeo celadon carrier for the first time in Wando-gun County. In 1991-96, multiple shipwrecks were discovered around Byeokpa Harbor in Jindo-gun County and in the coastal marshes of Dalido Island in Mokpo-si City, Jeollanam-do Province. Later on in 1995-96, 638 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels thought to be produced in Gangjin-gun County were discovered in the off coast of Doripo Port in Muan-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province.

Site (location)

Period of investigation

Key achievements

The Sinan Shipwreck

(Bangchuk-ri, Jeungdo-myeon,
Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do)

1976~84

▪︎ The first maritime discovery in Korea

▪︎ 1 Chinese shipwreck (Yuan dynasty, 14th century)

▪︎ 27,000 artifacts, 28 tones of Chinese coins, etc.

Underwater Excavation
at Sinchang-ri

(Sinchang-ri, Hangyeong-myeon
Bukjeju-gun, Jeju-do)

1980,1983, 1996

▪︎ Chinese porcelain vessels and gold ornaments
(Song/Yuan dynasties, 12-13th centuries)

Underwater Excavations
at the Taean Peninsula

(Boryeong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do)

1981~87

▪︎ Goryeo celadon vessels and Joseon white porcelain vessels
(14-17th centuries)

The Wando Shipwreck

(Eodu-ri, Yaksan-myeon,
Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do)

1983~84

▪︎ First discovery of Goryeo celadon carrier

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (12th century)

▪︎ About 30,000 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels

Jindo Shipwreck

(Byeokpa-ri Gogun-myeon,
Jindo-gun Jeollanam-do)

1991~92

1 Chinese log boat (Yuan dynasty, 13-14th centuries)

Dalido Shipwreck

(Dalido Island, Chungmu-dong,
Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do)

1995

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (13-14th centuries)

▪︎ Excavation at coastal marshes

Doripo port

(Songseok-ri Haeje-myeon,
Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do)

1995~96

▪︎ 638 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessel (13-14th centuries)

Administrative Office Underwater Excavation & Conservation Division
Contact 061-270-2070

Entering the Renaissance of Korean Maritime Archaeology

By the early 2000s, maritime archaeologists in Korea received the support of the Korean Navy. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage began to gradually conduct independent excavations of maritime cultural heritage. In 2006, the Seamuse, a maritime cultural heritage research vessel was put to sea. In 2007, the underwater excavation division was established for strengthening the professionalism and system of scientific research. To facilitate this development, the institute has constantly cultivated professionals in maritime surveys and set up research equipment since the 1990s.

Korean maritime archaeology faced a renaissance in the 2000s. The area of research expanded into the off coast of the middle part of the West Sea. Due to a clearer underwater environment compared to the southwestern seas of Korea, "maritime relics" could be recorded in more detail through photos and video in this area. Achievements included recovering a Goryeo celadon carrier ship and 16,000 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels from the seas of Biando Island and Gogunsangundo Islands in the West Sea. Additionally, countless relics were confirmed from shipwrecks in the coastal marshes of Daebudo near Ansan-si of Gyeonggi-do Province and the waters of Taean-gun in Chungcheongnam-do Province. These resulted in remarkable academic achievements in the history of Korean maritime archaeology such as six shipwrecks belonging to the Goryeo Period , wooden tablets, and Goryeo celadon vessels.

Site (location)

Period of investigation

Key achievements

Underwater Excavation at Biando
Island maritime excavation

(Biando Island, Okdo-myeon,
Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do)

2002~03

▪︎ 2,983 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels (12th century)

The Sipidongpado Sjipwreck

(Sipidongpado Island, Okdo-myeon,
Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do)

2003~04

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (12th century)

▪︎ 8,122 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels

The Underwater Excavation
at Wonsando Island

(Wonsando Island, Ocheon-myeon,
Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do)

2004~05

▪︎ Numerous sherds of Goryeo celadon vessels (13th century)

The Anjwa Shipwreck

(Geumsan-ri, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do)

2005

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (14th century)

▪︎ 4 artifacts including Goryeo celadon vessels

The Underwater Excavations
at Yamido Island

(Yamido-ri Okdo-myeon,
Gunsan-si, Jeollabuk-do)

2006~09

▪︎ 4,547 pieces of Goryeo celadon vessels (12th century)

Daebudo Shipwreck No. 1

(Daebudo Island, Ansan—si
Gyeonggi-do)

2006

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (12-13th centuries)

▪︎ The excavations were conducted in mudflat.

The Taeanseon Shipwreck

(Daeseom Island, Geunheung-myeon,
Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do)

2007~08

▪︎ First discovery of wooden tablets belonging to the Goryeo Period

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (12th century)

▪︎ 25,043 artifacts including Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

The Underwater Excavations
at Mado Island

(Geunheung-myeon, Taean-gun,
Chungcheongnam-do)

2009

Mado Shipwreck No. 1

▪︎ First discovery of grain carrier belonging to the Goryeo Period

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (13th century)

▪︎ 940 artifacts and organic materials including large amounts of grain, Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

2010

Mado Shipwreck No. 2

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (13th century)

▪︎ 974 artifacts and organic materials ncluding large amounts of grain, Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

Administrative Office Underwater Excavation & Conservation Division
Contact 061-270-2070

Establishing a New Base:
Korean Maritime Archaeology takes a new leap forward.

In the 2010s, Korean maritime archaeology took a great leap forward. This was also a leap forward and development for the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage, which is a specialized institute for the excavation and research of maritime cultural assets in Korea. The starting point of all this is the establishment of a base of operations in the central region of the West Coast. Construction was finished on the Taean Conservation Center in 2011, and the "Taean Maritime Museum" opened its doors in 2019. In 2012, Korea’s first maritime cultural asset excavation vessel, the Nurian (290 tonnes), and a research vessel for the underwater excavation, the Saenaru, were put to sail in 2019. The Nurian, Seamuse, Saenaru were thus now able to investigate and explore maritime cultural assets by sailing the waters of Korea.

It was through this infrastructure that significant achievements in excavation were also accomplished in the 2010s. Numerous relics were recovered as Mado Shipwreck No. 3 was discovered through the 4-7th excavations in the waters of Taean, and through the excavations of the first shipwreck from the Joseon Period, Mado Shipwreck No. 4". The wooden tablets and cargo recovered from the waters of Taean-gun brought an opportunity for Korean maritime archaeology to develop another step further as a study. On the other hand, the "Sososungjachongtong (小小勝字銃筒)", an ancient form of Korean firearms from the Battle of Myeongnyang during the period of the Japanese invasions of Korea, were discovered in the Myeongnyang Strait, a key seaway in the southeastern waters of Korea, and maritime investigations began in the waters of Sinchang-ri in Jeju-do Island in 2019.

Site (location)

Period of investigation

Key achievements

The Underwater Excavations
at Mado Island

(Geunheung-myeon, Taean-gun,
Chungcheongnam-do)

2011

Mado Shipwreck No. 3

▪︎ 1 Goryeo shipwreck (13th century)

▪︎ 336 artifacts and organic materials including large amounts of grain, Goryeo celadon vessels, stoneware vessesl, etc.

2011~12

▪︎ 667 pieces including Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

2014

▪︎ 289 pieces including Joseon white porcelains, etc.

2015

Mado Shipwreck No. 4

▪︎ 1 Joseon shipwreck (15th century)

▪︎ 974 artifacts and organic materials including large amounts of grain, Joseon buncheong wares, etc.

The Underwater Excavation
atWonan Beach

(Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do)

2010

▪︎ 244 pieces including Goryeo celadon vessels, etc. (12-13th centuries)

The Yeongheungdo Shipwreck

(Seomeobbeol marsh, Yeongheung-myeon,
Ongjin-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City)

2010, 2012~13

▪︎ First discovery of seafaring ship from the United Silla Period

▪︎ 1 United Silla shipwreck

▪︎ 723 pieces including cast iron cauldrons, Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

The Underwater Excavation
atMyeongnyang Waters excavation

(Oryu-ri Gogun-myeon Jindo-gun,
Jeollanam-do))

2012~14 (1~3 th)

2016~17 (4~5 th)

▪︎ 893 pieces including Goryeo celadon vessels, etc

▪︎ 3 pieces of "Sososungjachongtong (小小勝字銃筒)" Gun used in the Battle of Myeongnyang, etc.

Daebudo Shipwreck No. 2

(Daebudo Island, Ansan—si, Gyeonggi-do)

2015

▪︎ 1 Goryeo Shipwreck (12-13th centuries)

▪︎ Stoneware vessels, etc.

The Underwater Excavation
atDangampo Port

2017~18

▪︎ 34 pieces including Goryeo celadon vessels, etc.

The Underwater Excavations
atSinchang-ri

(Sinchang-ri, Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-do Island)

2019

▪︎ Chinese porcelain, seals, anchor stones, etc.

Administrative Office Underwater Excavation & Conservation Division
Contact 061-270-2070

Global network and Korean Maritime Archaeology
once again take a leap forward.

Korea has seen significant breakthroughs in underwater archaeology over the past four decades since laying the foundation with the excavation of the Sinan shipwreck. Until the 2010s, the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage (NRIMCH) has conducted surveys on 22 underwater archaeological sites, salvaging 16 shipwrecks and 110,000 relics, and completed enumerations of 300 relic reported sea areas. The NRIMCH has since established a station in the central West Sea area, and has been making efforts to build infrastructure, such as securing two probes, underwater excavation vessels, professional equipment, skilled manpower and budget.

The NRIMCH plans to conduct underwater excavation surveys in the 2020s to revitalize global networks, converge new digital technologies, and pursue academic collaborations. Through exchange and cooperation with advanced institutions, The NRIMCH will adopt advanced technologies and take up technical endeavors, such as deep sea excavation, through exchange and cooperation with advanced institutions. The NRIMCH will accelerate the development and application of scientific excavation equipment, such as exploration equipment and underwater excavation robots, through continuous cooperation with domestic and foreign exchange institutions. Moreover, the NRIMCH will expand its scope of research through academic collaborations, including conservation science, archeology and art history.

Name of discovery (location)

Period of investigation

Key achievements

Jeju Island, Sinchang-ri maritime
excavation

2019~20

▪︎ Chinese porcelain, etc.

Administrative Office Underwater Excavation & Conservation Division
Contact 061-270-2070