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The baby octopus that ¡°found¡± a sunken treasure of Koryo celadon happened on a catch worth W20-30 billion, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday.
The National Maritime Museum on Tuesday disclosed the exact site off Taean County, South Chungcheong Province where an octopus fisherman discovered a vessel from the mid-to-late 12th century. Underwater excavation revealed at least 10,000 pieces of the green porcelain near the sunken ship. Fisherman Kim Yong-chul (57) was led to the find on May 18 by a baby octopus which had a celadon shard stuck to its suckers.
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Koryo celadon salvaged from a ship that went down in waters off Daeseom Island, Taean County, South Chungcheong Province in the 1200s is on display at Taean County Office on Tuesday./ Yonhap News
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The salvage operation has so far retrieved roughly 600 pieces of celadon, but there is much more waiting to be retrieved inside the sunken ship, where celadon plates and bowls remain tied with straw ropes and neatly stacked in rows. Underwater excavation expert Mun Hwan-seok of the National Maritime Museum estimates that there must be at least 10,000 pieces. Most are bowls and plates, but some are rare pieces like a cucumber-shaped kettle.
Experts estimate they were made in the mid-to-late 12th century, before the emergence of inlaid celadon later in the century, given the thick glaze on some of the pieces. Also, some of the vessels are shaped in a fashion similar to cups known to have been used in the mid-1200s and the craftsmanship is in the pre-inlaid celadon style.
Based on the condition of the glaze and the shape of the celadon, Prof. Yoon Yong-i of Myongji University assessed the latest discovery as the most remarkable of eight underwater excavations. ¡°Although they weren¡¯t for royal use, they were quality products used by high-ranking aristocrats or government agencies,¡± he said. To date, a total of 60,400 pieces of Koryo celadon has been found under the sea. The first batch of 30,672 pieces was salvaged near Wando Island, South Jeolla Province in 1983. The Cultural Heritage Administration has tentatively designated this region as a historical landmark for its vivid testimony to the development of Koryo celadon.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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