The 16th International Conference on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

A Study on the Life History of “Nanhai(南海) I” shipwreck

AAC-10

22 Oct 2024, 14:10

20m

GOLDEN CASSIA (金桂厅), 2nd Floor

Oral Presentation Applications in Archaeology Applications in Archaeology

Speaker

Jianfeng Cui (1. School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University)

Description

This study dated the tree ring sequence ages of the upper deck, hull deck, mast holes, keel, etc. of the “Nanhai(南海) I” shipwreck using the method of AMS radiocarbon dating. The data were corrected using Bayesian methods by Oxcal calibration software. The samples representing the time of ship sinking, such as various plant seeds and animal bones, were also dated. According to the calibration results, “Nanhai(南海) I” shipwreck was probably built between 900 and 1000 AD. It was repaired between 1020 and 1050 AD. After combining the correction of the unearthed porcelain with the manufacture data written on its bottom, the sank date can be a certain year from 1183-1212 AD. Based on the radiocarbon dating, it could be inferred that “Nanhai(南海) I” shipwreck could have navigated about 200-300 years.