13.4 Meters Long
A Trade Ship That Carried Grains
The true nature of the largest trade ship from the Goryeo Dynasty has been revealed. Measuring 13.4 meters in length and 4.7 meters in width, it was confirmed to have carried rice and other grains.
The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage announced on October 29 that it has published an underwater excavation report and a scientific analysis report on the "Haenam Songhori Line 1," which was discovered at Songho Beach in Haenam, South Jeolla Province.
This is the largest Goryeo-period ship confirmed to date. It is a flat-bottomed Hansun (traditional Korean ship) type. The method used to join the outer planks differs from that of previous Goryeo ships, making it a valuable source for understanding changes in shipbuilding technology.
The hull was constructed using domestic wood such as pine, oak, and elm. A large quantity of rice in the form of unhusked grains was found in a celadon jar. Various other grains, including foxtail millet, sorghum, barnyard millet, and buckwheat, were also discovered with their husks intact.
This ship was discovered in May 2023, and an excavation investigation was conducted over four months. The report includes a variety of results, such as radiocarbon dating and dendrochronological analysis.
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