Old Chinese ceramics at bottom of sea

Old Chinese ceramics at bottom of sea

On September 28, a scuba diving staff member pointed at the sea off Oha Island where ancient cultural assets are located underwater.


October 10, 2013 Tetsuya Nakajima, correspondent of the Ryukyu Shimpo
On September 28, about 40 residents took part in the Kumejima Island Underwater Cultural Heritage exhibition held in the sea off Oha Island. This event, held on the island for the first time and sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, aims to preserve and make use of the cultural assets that exist in the community.

After they listened to a lecture on underwater heritage delivered by experts from Kumejima Museum, the participants went on an observation tour in the water around Oha Island. This tour was supported by scuba divers and experts.

Split into two groups, one snorkeling and the other in a glass boat, they saw cultural assets such as old Chinese ceramics. The island makes it possible for visitors to see the underwater heritage items safely. Kumejima Island was a stopping point between China and Ryukyu during the period of the Three-Kingdoms known as the Sanzan and the Kingdom of Ryukyu. At the bottom of the sea off Kumejima, it is known that there are many old ceramics that trading vessels had carried. One of the participants on the tour said, “It was very impressive to be able to see such precious underwater heritage with my own eyes.”　

(English translation by T&CT, Hitomi Shinzato and Mark Ealey)

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