Vietnam – Arqueonautas Worldwide

Local fishermen found blue and white porcelain pieces in their nets approximately 200 Nm in front of Vung Tau city, Ho-Chi-Ming city province. Therefore, a commission of Vietnamese institutions including the Director of the National Maritime Museum in Vung Tau, Mr. Pham Chi Than, the Provincial Department of Culture and Information in Vung Tau, the Ministry of Culture in Hanoi and the Director of the National Museum of Vietnamese History in Hanoi, Dr. Quan, contacted Arqueonautas Worldwide (AWW), through Prof. Augustine H. Vinh, a well-known expert of shipwreck ceramics.

The objective was to locate and document the wreck site from where these porcelain artefacts originated and then to decide how to protect the site or, if considered of relevant historical importance, plan further archaeological interventions.

The target to locate was named “X2” and two survey expeditions took place in 2004 and 2005. AWW’s team mainly used a side scan sonar and a drop down camera for the surveys until a debris field was identified. Reconnaissance dives were then carried out to gather further data and collect some artefact samples. As the wreck site was located at a depth of 82 m, the TRIMIX diving technique was used, under the guidance of Bruce Konefe, from Indochine Divers.

A few scattered artefacts were located and recovered during the planned dives. Based on the preliminary observations, these artefacts were dated to the early 17th century Qing Dynasty in China. No coherent archaeological context was observed, only a debris field produced by the constant work of fishing trawlers in the area.