Research on Huaguang Reef Shipwreck Ⅰ and Overseas Trade on the Maritime Silk Road in the Song Dynasty

Huaguang reef shipwreck Ⅰ is an early Southern Song Dynasty overseas trade ship, located in Huaguang reef, in middle of western side of the Xisha Islands. Huaguang reef is a key point in the maritime Silk road, leading ways to major spots in south China sea region in the Song Dynasty. A great number of export porcelains were found in Huaguang reef shipwreck Ⅰ underwater archaeological survey and excavation, which were export goods produced in the south like Longquan Kiln in Zhejiang, Jingdezhen Kiln in Jiangxi and Dehua Kiln, Cizao Kiln, minqing Kiln, Songxi Kiln in Fujian. Also, bronze mirrors, metal objects and ship components in good shape are found. According to the shipwrecks in south China sea region and their excavations, trade in the Song Dynasty, especially overseas trade has new development. Changes happened in the kinds of cargo ships. This also reflects changes in trade ports and goods resources. In the meantime, overseas trade pushed south China’s regional economic development, especially in the case of prosperity of ceramic handicraft industry since the Song Dynasty in the coastal area of south China and the dominance of export-oriented production. Those goods found in Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Eastern Coast of Africa and their massive discoveries of export porcelains are witness to the glorious blooming of the maritime Silk road during the Song and Yuan Dynasties.