Draft:Green Island No.1

Green Island No.1

Green Island No.1 is a shipwreck site southwest of Green Island Township, Taitung County, Taiwan. It was registered as an important underwater cultural asset of Taiwan on January 24, 2018.

Green Island No.1 was discovered by local residents in 2011. From June 14 to 19, 2013, the Bureau of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of China commissioned the Academia Sinica underwater archaeological team, under the guidance of local residents, to explore the waters of Potaitou in Nanliao, Green Island. The underwater archaeological team discovered that the wreck site comprised a sizeable wooden hull and hull structure in three locations. The current site is generally in complete condition. The ship's deck is oriented southeast and northwest, with a total length of approximately 39 meters. Several ship plates and bulkheads are exposed at the front and rear of the hull. The planks are thick and well-preserved. Various copper nails have been left on the planks and are covered with copper sheets. This represents the shipbuilding method of the Netherlands and Spain in the 17th and 18th centuries. The hull's center is buried by sea sand and the surrounding seabed bulges. The underwater archaeological team has speculated that more of the hull or cargo might be buried underneath. During exploration, some metal objects were found. Ballast stones were found in deeper waters on the lower right side of the hull.

The relics uncovered include hundreds of Qianlong Tongbao, two Daoguang Tongbao, ballast stones, Veneroida clams, glassware, wine bottles, olive seeds, Chinese and Western ceramics, metalware, etc. Based on the remains of the copper-clad wooden boat and other relics uncovered during this exploration, it was preliminarily determined that the wreck was an ancient Western-style wooden sailing ship from the mid-19th century. According to the “Hengchun County Chronicle” and other documents, there were records of several shipwrecks around Green Island in the 19th century. Researchers infer that “Green Island No. 1” was a Western trading ship traveling to and from Northeast Asia. This wreck can be used to examine the trade situation of Western countries in Asia in the mid-19th century. It also serves as an archaeological basis for understanding Eurasian trade routes and shipbuilding techniques.