Chinese archaeologists are excavating sunken warships used by
Zheng Chenggong and his followers to reclaim Taiwan from Dutch
occupiers more than three centuries ago.
The ruins of Zheng's fleet were found near Dongshan Island in
east China's Fujian
Province in 2000. But as long as ten years before, local people
had found bowls, plates and other porcelain wares with the seals of
Zheng Chenggong.
Local fishermen said they can see rusty cannons at ebb tide.
The excavation began on June 6 and is scheduled to finish by the
end of September. It may last longer, though, if the sunken ships
are found to be still intact, said Chen Liqun, a cultural official
in Dongshan County.
Chen said that archaeologists have yet to determine how many
ships are under water.
More than 20 underwater archaeologists from the National Museum
in Beijing are working in Dongshan. They have discovered broken
china pieces, cannonballs, grenades, iron blocks and muddy sand
mixed with gun powder.
Archaeologist Lin Guo said that the ruins are located in a
geologically complex area. Tides and typhoon also add to the
difficulty in excavation.
Lin said that what they have found can help prove that Dongshan
served as an important military training base for Zheng's
troops.
Zheng Chenggong was born in 1624, the year Dutch invaders
occupied Taiwan. His troops drove the invaders off the island in
1662. Zheng died on the island in the same year.
Zheng is considered a great patriot by the Chinese people.
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2004)