Page 93 - Vol_2_Archaeology of Manila Galleon Seaport Trade

60 C. Zhou

1572–1620) period of Ming Dynasty, dating to the late of 16th century, which
basically coincide with the blue and white porcelains found in Manila galleon
shipwreck San Diego (1600) in Philippines.

3.3 Discussions

3.3.1 Analysis on the Hull Structure of Nan’ao
No. I Shipwreck

According to the archaeological materials, ancient wooden junk of Song and Yuan
dynasties discovered in coastal regions of China are characterized with an interior
structure of fewer big size compartments, such as the Quanzhou ("!) shipwreck
of Song Dynasty (QZMMF 1987), No. I shipwreck of South China Sea (!!($)
of Song Dynasty (Sun 2016), No. 1 shipwreck at Huaguangjiao %#$ Island of
Yuan dynasty (UARCNMC and HNPOCRP 2006), No. 1 shipwreck at Daliandao
(""$) island of Yuan dynasty (UARCNMC et al. 2014), No. 1 shipwreck at
Banyangjiao (&"$) island of Yuan dynasty (Yang 2012), Xiangshan (!")
shipwreck of Ming dynasty (NPMICRA and XSCCRPO 1998), No. I and No. II
shipwrecks at Penglai of Yuan Dynasty (SDPICRA et al. 2006). All of these ships
present 13–15 compartments, each of which is bigger than 1 m long, constructed by
the rib frames and bulkhead plates.
Nan’ao No. I shipwreck presents a new structure of holding compartments that
are different from that of the traditional Chinese junks before Ming Dynasty. The
hull remnant is 24.85 m long with 24 bulkhead plates forming 25 watertight
compartments (holds or cabins), each of which measures less than 1 m. This is
characterized by the dense and concentrated compartments constructed by the keel,
cross rib frames, bulkheads board and longitudinal planks. The characteristic of the
hull structure of Nan’ao No. I shipwreck also presents in some other shipwreck
cases as Wanjiao (!$) No. I shipwreck of Qing dynasty in Pingtang of Fujian
(Zhang 2012; Zhao 2012), Xiaobaijiao (%!$) No. I shipwreck of Qing Dynasty
in Ningbo (Lin et al. 2011), and etc. The hull remnant of Wanjiao shipwreck is
13.8 m long with 16 compartments. Xiaobaijiao shipwreck remains is 20.35 m long
with 24 compartments. The structure of the denser and stronger rib frames and
concentrated compartments of these shipwrecks of late Ming and Qing dynasties
present an improvement of the shipbuilding technique in ancient China. The denser
rib frames could be stronger to support the hull planks and the reinforcing function
of the bulkheads declined. So the boards of bulkhead were set as flexible and
movable, by which the compartments could be adjusted according to the volume of
loaded cargoes. The origin of this improvement of ancient Chinese shipbuilding is
interesting and valuable for further study. The international technical exchange of
shipbuilding between the East and the West could be an important aspect for
investigation.