Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the significant archaeological discoveries from the underwater excavation of two ancient shipwrecks in the Northwest Slope of the South China Sea, marking a historic breakthrough in China's underwater archaeology, transitioning from shallow to deep-sea exploration [8][10]. Group 1: Archaeological Discoveries - The "Deep Blue Treasure" exhibition at the China (Hainan) South China Sea Museum has seen a nearly 50% increase in daily visitor numbers during the summer, showcasing artifacts from the underwater excavation [6]. - The excavation revealed a large number of artifacts, including a stunning cloisonné peacock and peony-patterned jar, previously lying at a depth of approximately 1,500 meters [6][12]. - The discovery of two shipwrecks, one filled with porcelain from Jingdezhen and the other with imported hardwood, illustrates the prosperous two-way trade along the ancient Maritime Silk Road [11][15]. Group 2: Technological Advancements - The "Deep Sea Warrior" manned submersible, which has a working depth capability of 4,500 meters, played a crucial role in these discoveries, having undergone over a decade of technological development [10]. - The successful operation of the submersible in extreme conditions demonstrates the advancements in underwater archaeology technology, allowing for exploration in previously inaccessible deep-sea areas [9][10]. Group 3: Conservation Efforts - The exhibition employs a dynamic model of "archaeology, protection, and exhibition," allowing the public to witness the conservation processes of newly recovered artifacts [14]. - Newly recovered artifacts undergo a complex conservation process to prevent deterioration due to environmental changes after being brought to the surface [14][15]. - The conservation team at the museum is dedicated to preserving and restoring these artifacts, ensuring their longevity and historical significance [14][15].

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant archaeological discoveries made in the South China Sea, particularly the excavation of two ancient shipwrecks at a depth of approximately 1500 meters, marking a historic breakthrough in underwater archaeology for China [2][8]. Group 1: Archaeological Discoveries - The "Deep Sea Warrior" manned submersible discovered a large number of ancient ceramic jars during its 500th dive, located about 150 kilometers southeast of Sanya, in the South China Sea's northwest slope [2][3]. - The excavation of the two shipwrecks, which were found to contain thousands of artifacts, demonstrates the prosperity of ancient maritime trade along the Maritime Silk Road [4][6]. Group 2: Technological Advancements - The "Deep Sea Warrior" submersible, developed with over 95% domestic technology, has a working capacity of up to 4500 meters underwater, enabling Chinese archaeologists to explore previously unreachable depths [3][4]. - The successful extraction of artifacts involved advanced technologies such as high-resolution imaging and 3D scanning, which aid in documenting and preserving the archaeological findings [5][6]. Group 3: Exhibition and Preservation - The "Deep Blue Treasures" exhibition at the China (Hainan) Nanhai Museum showcases the archaeological findings and emphasizes the importance of artifact preservation through a dynamic approach of simultaneous excavation and exhibition [7][8]. - The preservation process for artifacts extracted from the deep sea is complex, requiring careful cleaning and desalination to prevent deterioration due to environmental changes [7][8].