Chinese media outlet Jiefang Daily recently published an article introducing the topic of a large quantity of Chinese porcelain found from an 18th-century shipwreck discovered off the coast of Norway in 2025. The excavation work is expected to continue for several more years.

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The shipwreck was discovered on the seabed at a depth of approximately 600 meters in the Skagerrak Strait, which lies between the southernmost tip of Norway and the Jutland Peninsula further south. The ship's age can be traced back to the mid-18th century. The discovered porcelain was made in China, primarily blue-and-white porcelain. From the shipwreck, archaeologists recovered not only a large quantity of porcelain but also cargo such as chandeliers, wine glasses, textiles, grain, and wooden chests containing tea leaves and Chinese medicinal herbs. The chandeliers were of German or British craftsmanship. Because the shipwreck carried an extremely large amount of porcelain, it came to be known as the "Porcelain Shipwreck."

According to archaeologists, no shipwreck with a comparable cargo has ever been found in the Nordic region, and the "Porcelain Shipwreck" will provide valuable insights for studying the maritime history of Norway and the Nordic region.

The "Porcelain Shipwreck" was discovered in 2025 by Norwegian Espen Sastad. Sastad also runs a company that specializes in underwater exploration. Sastad explained the circumstances of the "Porcelain Shipwreck's" discovery: "After the remotely operated vehicle descended to the seabed, we switched on the sonar and moved towards the target displayed on the sonar screen. Soon, we began to see cultural relics, small pieces of leather, and small pieces of wood (through the optical camera). We realized we were approaching a shipwreck. After that, when the underwater robot entered the shipwreck area, we saw several hard-looking objects. Underwater visibility was poor, and the screen was a bit blurry. As we maneuvered the underwater robot to skim the seabed, a large number of white objects suddenly appeared before us. We wondered what these could possibly be."

Sastad further stated, "We suddenly realized it might be porcelain. It seemed that way. As the underwater robot got closer, we could clearly see the decorative patterns on top (of the white objects). We immediately knew it was Chinese porcelain. Everyone on board was ecstatic. It was truly incredible."

In April this year, archaeologists photographed the shipwreck using an underwater drone and then created a 3D model based on the images. In May, archaeologists successfully recovered approximately 40 cultural artifacts using a robotic arm equipped with suction cups. What surprised everyone was the extremely well-preserved condition of the hull and its cargo. Some wooden chests carrying porcelain were also completely preserved, and the cargo remained in its original place. According to experts, such a complete state of preservation is extremely rare.

Another important point is the extremely rich variety of cargo, which reflects the complex trade networks of the Nordic region at that time. Furthermore, due to the excellent state of preservation, it is also possible to study organic materials that are very rarely preserved. Organic materials include grain and textiles. There is also a large quantity of organic materials whose identification has not yet been completed, and they are presumed to be possibly tea leaves, coffee, cocoa, or medicinal ingredients. Moreover, since the cargo has remained in its original location within the hull to this day, it allows for the study of the loading methods used on ships during maritime transport at that time. This is extremely rare in maritime archaeology.

What greatly delighted and surprised researchers was a brick recovered from the galley area of the shipwreck. This brick had the manufacturer's mark remaining on it. This led to the conclusion that this brick was manufactured in Lübeck, a city in northern Germany, and its production date was earlier than 1772. Furthermore, the exterior of the porcelain was covered with a glaze known as "Batavian brown." Since that color was strongly favored by European consumers at the time, it is understood that China specifically produced it for the European market.

Frode Kvalø, archaeologist and "Porcelain Shipwreck" project manager, explained that what has been recovered so far is limited to cargo scattered on the surface of the seabed. There are still several complete boxes remaining on the seabed. Therefore, there is a very high possibility that many more cultural artifacts will be discovered and recovered. For example, several exquisite and beautiful lotus-flower shaped porcelain pieces are still on the seabed. Archaeology experts believe that these porcelain pieces were not directly transported from China to the Nordic region by long-distance merchant ships but first arrived at major European ports through the East India trade network and were then transshipped towards the Nordic region by regional trade vessels. The archaeological team has only completed preliminary investigations to date, and excavation work is expected to continue for several more years. (Translation/Editing by Kisaragi Hayato)