Underwater Excavation of Waters off Seonyudo Island, Gunsan

- The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage Confirmed the Existence of Old Shipwrecks at Waters off Seonyudo Island -

On April 9, the National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage of Cultural Heritage Administration will carry out the underwater excavation at waters off Seonyudo Island.

This project will be conducted until October 27 in order to pinpoint the locations of shipwrecks and concentration of artifacts. The area that has high possibility of concentration of artifacts but is restricted to be excavated because of being located on the route of cruise ships, especially, will be focused.

Roughly five-hundred artifacts from the Goryeo period to modern times were recovered in previous survey at waters off Seonyudo Island in 2021 and 2022. While most of them were scattered, bundles of celadons which were loaded for cargo, oars, anchors, and anchor stones used for old vessels were also found. The NRIMCH suggests a variety of artifacts related to the vessels indicate existences of shipwrecks at surveyed area.

The targeted area near Seonyudo Island, Gunsan, included various historical places, such as Gunsanjin used for naval camp, and Gunsanjeong for envoys’ accommodation. It was the route of various vessels as well as the base of coast of Yellow Sea as a stopover of international sea route.

The NRIMCH expects this project discovers historic values of Seonyudo Island and contributes local tourism. In addition, it will do its best to conserve and protect maritime cultural heritage which is buried under the waters off Korea with consistent survey and research.