Underwater archaeologists off the coast of Kyushu, Japan, have located the remains of a 13th-century Korean vessel. The ship, likely part of a diplomatic or royal trade mission from the Koryo Dynasty, was found with a cargo of unique gilded terracotta vessels and jade-inlaid bronze mirrors, which appear to have been perfectly preserved in the anoxic mud.
This discovery provides critical evidence of the high-level diplomatic exchange between the Korean peninsula and the Japanese islands during a period of intense maritime activity. The presence of 'Celadon-style' ceramics with experimental gold-leaf applications suggests the vessel was carrying gifts intended for the Shogunate court.