Ceramics from the Koryo and Chosun dynasties and the Chinese Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, unearthed from waters off Ma Island, Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province

Some 380 ceramics pieces dating from the Koryo and Chosun dynasties and the Chinese Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties were found on the sea floor off Ma Island, Geunheung-myeon, Taean-gun, South Chungcheong Province.

The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration on Thursday said it had discovered the wrecks of two ships, including a Koryo-era ship that went down in the 12th century, in the area since April.

The institute salvaged 515 Koryo celadon pieces from the area last year. All told, it has discovered a total of 943 relics from these waters since 2007.

A Koryo ship was found on the sea floor in waters off Dae Island, about 4 km from the area, in 2007 with some 23,000 Koryo celadon pieces. Finds have been reported in waters off Taean since the 1970s.

A CHA official said the area was home to an international guest house and used to be a stopover for international trading ships and diplomats during the Koryo period. But many ships sank because of the complicated undersea topography and the treacherous currents.

The recently discovered Koryo celadon includes fragments of bowls with halo-shaped bottoms dating back to the 11th century and inlaid ware dating from the late 14th century. From the Chosun period there are grayish-blue-powdered celadon pieces dating from the 15th century and white porcelain pieces dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.