Hong Kong’s sunken treasure: ancient anchor and cannon reveal our rich maritime history
Experts say more should be invested into exploration and Hong Kong’s maritime archaeology
Two monumental artefacts were recovered over the weekend by a local diving group, marking a maritime heritage milestone for Hong Kong .
A diving team from the Hong Kong Underwater Heritage Group recovered an anchor stock - the upper part of an anchor - around Basalt Island, and a cannon off the coast of High Island. The anchor stock is believed to date back to the Song Dynasty, making it over 1,000 years old - Hong Kong’s oldest marine artefact.
“It’s important for Hong Kong’s [maritime] history because it’s evidence to show that Hong Kong is a location worth investigating,” Dr Libby Chan Lai-pik, senior curator at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum said. The museum is a sponsor of the Underwater Heritage Group.
“The anchor is proof that Hong Kong was perhaps quite advanced during the Song Dynasty in terms of water transport and commercial trade.”
The other artefact recovered was a cannon weighing one tonne. The site was discovered two years ago by a local diver, Raymond Man. Over the course of two days last weekend, it took a group of seven divers and 25 dives in low visibility to lift the weapon.
With the help of hammers and a car jack, divers pried the cannon from the seabed, but had to use a balloon and crane to lift it onto a ship.