Diving team from Hong Kong Underwater Heritage Group recovered two monumental artefacts marking city’s Maritime heritage milestone. The items brought to the surface consist of the upper part of an anchor and a ship cannon. The discoveries were made around Basalt Island and off the coast of the High Island.

The anchor is believed to be the oldest marine artefact from Hong Kong, dating 1000 years in the past. The artefact might be proof that there Hong Kong had advanced transport and commercial trade in the time of the Song Dynasty. The cannon weighing one ton is believed to have been made between 1930s-1850s. It was lifted with the help of hammers and a car jack and its lifting involved the use of a balloon and crane. There was a second cannon buried beneath the first one but the team had no time to recover it.

The artefacts were found in Hong Kong waters, therefore they are officially government property but the divers and the Maritime Museum hope to co-operate with the Antiquities and Monuments Office to exhibit the artefacts in the museum for public display.

(after South China Morning Post)