Wreck of 13th century Mongol invasion ship discovered

[xchrom]

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111025a2.html


"Miracle" find: The wreck of a ship that is believed to have been in the invading navy of Kublai Khan lies on the seabed Saturday off Matsuura, Nagasaki Prefecture. RYUKYU UNIVERSITY / KYODO PHOTO

NAGASAKI — The wreck of a ship believed to have been part of the ill-fated attempts by Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China in the 13th century, to invade Japan has been found lying relatively intact under the seabed off Nagasaki Prefecture, a team of Japanese researchers said Monday.

It is the first wreck linked to the invasion attempts to have been discovered in Japan with much of the hull still intact, including a 12-meter section of the keel and rows of planks 10 cm thick and 15 to 25 cm wide attached to the keel, according to University of the Ryukyus professor Yoshifumi Ikeda and his team.

Discovered about 1 meter under the seabed in waters 20 to 25 meters deep off Takashima Island in Matsuura, Nagasaki, the wreck of the vessel, believed to have been over 20 meters long, is expected to provide archeologists with crucial information on the Mongol attacks in 1274 and 1281, which until now have been known mostly from documents and drawings.

"I believe we will be able to understand more about shipbuilding skills at the time as well as the actual situation of exchanges in East Asia," Ikeda told reporters in Nagasaki. He added that the wreck likely remained relatively well preserved because it was buried under the sand.

[dipsydoodle]

1. Ship from failed Mongol invasion found off Japan

The wreck of a ship thought to have taken part in a failed Mongol invasion of Japan has been found off the Japanese coast.

A team of researchers uncovered a 12-metre (36ft) section of keel buried in deep sand off Nagasaki prefecture.

They said it was the first time such a large piece of hull had been recovered from the Mongol invasion fleets.

The 13th Century attacks on Japan were a rare setback for the Mongols at the height of their powers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15452071

[xchrom]

2. ...

:thumbsup:

[dipsydoodle]

3. I couldn't figure out where to post it

and while I was pondering you came up with the answer.

:hi:

[xchrom]

4. LOL -- i do that too. nt

[Warpy]

5. After sitting and staring blankly for a few minutes

I'd probably have chosen the Science Forum, but "articles" also works.

This is a really interesting find, we usually think of them as a land invasion force, only, one of the most successful ever, although it didn't last long after the death of the original military genius.

[Zyzfyx]

8. You're right

I didn't even know they HAD a navy. :shrug:

[xchrom]

9. sometimes i think things have 1 foot in culture & 1 foot in science.

i try for my best shot from there.

[Botany]

6. the wreck of the Mongol Fitzgerald

The legend lives on from Nippon on down
of the big water they called "The Sea of Japan."
The sea, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.
With a load of Mongol hoards a thousand or more
than the Mongol Fitzgerald went down in a storm
that good ship and crew went down and they knew they were screwed
when the "typhoons of November" came early.

[Scuba]

7. Cool. I'd love to dive that wreck! Thanks for posting.