Centuries old priceless porcelain discovered on 300-year-old shipwreck
A collection of Chinese porcelain alongside European-manufactured items has been recovered from an 18th-century vessel discovered beneath Norwegian waters.
The researchers believe the sailing ship sank sometime in the mid-1700s.
It was located in the Skagerrak Strait along Norway's southern coastline.
Government and museum authorities announced the findings on Monday.
The wreck sits approximately 600 metres below the surface.
It has remained undisturbed for roughly 270 years until its recent discovery.
The salvage firm owner who located the wreck found a remarkable cargo still intact within the vessel's remains.
Neatly arranged blue-and-white porcelain bowls formed part of the haul.
Drinking goblets and textile materials were also found at the site.
The Norwegian Maritime Museum confirmed grain supplies and chandelier components were among the recovered artefacts.
The discovery was made at a depth of about 2,000 feet, presenting significant challenges for the subsequent underwater archaeological operation.
Norway's Climate Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen described the significance of the find in a statement.
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He said: "This find is not only extraordinary, it's also of considerable scientific value and demonstrates an important technological advancement in underwater archaeology."
Where the ship originally set sail from and its intended destination have yet to be established.
The Norwegian Maritime Museum said investigations into the wreck and its cargo are continuing as experts work to piece together the vessel's history.
It comes just days after a separate shipwreck was discovered by a British driver.
Infamous pirates Blackbeard and Calico Jack Rackham were both linked to the discovered vessels in the Bahamas.
British marine archaeologists Dr Sean Kingsley and Dr Michael Pateman discovered scorched husks across the seabed near the renowned pirate hotspot off Nassau, now the capital of the Bahamas
Alongside the remarkable burnt husks, scientists also stumbled across a tranche of weapons hidden within the ships.
The finds included an iron cannon, 25 lead musket balls and a tool used for sharpening swords.
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