Yesterday, the reporter learned from the China Sino-Japanese War Museum that the Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection Center of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Shandong Provincial Underwater Archaeology Research Center, the Weihai City Museum and the China Sino-Japanese War Museum will continue to jointly carry out underwater archaeological investigation of the site of the No. 1 shipwreck in Weihai Bay this year. In addition, the city will also begin to compile the cultural relics protection plan for the ruins of the No. 1 shipwreck in Weihai Bay.
Dingyuan ship ironclad salvage site. Film courtesy of the Sino-Japanese War Museum of China
Weihai Bay No. 1 Shipwreck Site "Weiwan No. 1" is the wreck site of the flagship "Dingyuan" of the Beiyang Navy, located in the southeast sea of Liugong Island. From 2017 to 2020, in order to investigate and protect the ruins of the Beiyang Naval warship sunk in Weihai Bay, the underwater archaeological survey project of the Jiawu Shipwreck site in Weihai Bay was continuously carried out. During this period, more than 1,500 cultural relics of various kinds were produced, including the key physical evidence that can confirm the identity of the "Dingyuan" ship - a piece of iron armor weighing 18.7 tons.
Ironclad hoisting site. Film courtesy of the Sino-Japanese War Museum of China
"For the cultural relics salvaged from the water, we have established a laboratory in conjunction with the Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection and Restoration Center, and are currently undergoing protective restoration. This year, we will further improve the protection measures for the cultural relics of the water, increase experimental equipment, and increase the intensity of restoration. The relevant person in charge of the Sino-Japanese War Museum said that around June, the relevant departments will continue to conduct underwater archaeological investigation of the site of the first shipwreck in Weihai Bay and its surrounding areas in preparation for the next continuous salvage. For the cultural relics that have the conditions for water, they will be salvaged; if they do not have the conditions for salvage for the time being, they will be recorded and displayed to the public by shooting videos.
Archaeological site, launched. Weihai Evening News reporter Wang Xiao photographed
This year, the city will also begin to compile a cultural relics protection plan for the No. 1 shipwreck site in Weihai Bay, set up a buoy for the "Dingyuan" shipwreck site near the sea area of the center of the site, and protect the site; extensively collect and sort out the cultural relics and historical materials of the Beiyang Navy, further carry out research work related to cultural relics, and enhance the influence of the Weihai Bay No. 1 shipwreck site.
Producer: Ding Xiuling
Coordinator: Wang Xuanbin
Editor: Zhang Xiaotong
Review: Zhang Xuexin
Reporter Shen Daoyuan Correspondent Yu Xiaoming