Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract/Objectives

According to historical records and geographical evidence, Kinmen is located in the southeastern waters of Fujian Province, bordering the Taiwan Strait. It faces Xiamen Island across the sea and is adjacent to Quanzhou to the north. Xiamen is situated at the estuary of the Jiulong River in southeastern Fujian Province, backed by the plains of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou. With its winding coastline, broad harbor, and deep waters, it is a natural deep-water port and has long served as an important foreign trade hub along China’s southeastern coast. During the Qing dynasty, most vessels traveling between Fujian and Taiwan departed from Xiamen. Quanzhou, meanwhile, was renowned during the Song and Yuan dynasties as the “Greatest Port in the East” and served as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. It is therefore evident that the waters around Xiamen and Kinmen were once densely traversed by ships in ancient times. In the modern era, Kinmen served as a naval base for Zheng Chenggong’s fleet; after 1949, it became a strategic gateway guarding Taiwan and Penghu, and numerous naval battles took place in its surrounding waters. Over the centuries, the waters off Kinmen have witnessed both the prosperity of maritime commerce and the turmoil of twentieth-century warfare. Beneath its seemingly calm surface lies a wealth of underwater cultural heritage awaiting further discovery and protection.

Results/Contributions

According to documentary sources, shipwrecks frequently occurred in the Kinmen–Xiamen waters, indicating a high potential for underwater archaeological value. However, previous Underwater Cultural Heritage Survey Projects had not been conducted in this area, and it should therefore be designated as a priority survey location.


In this project, three sensitive survey zones have been delineated, covering a vast area. According to the survey plan, preliminary reconnaissance and shipwreck investigations will be conducted within these three zones during the 2025–2026 project years (ROC Years 114–115). The 2025 survey was completed on May 24, with the team returning to Penghu thereafter.


The 2025 survey implemented marine scientific instrument reconnaissance and oral history investigations within the three sensitive zones. Due to the extensive area involved, the overall project is planned to be completed over a three-year period. Following preliminary screening, a total of 20 suspected targets were identified, which were subsequently verified through diver investigations conducted by the underwater archaeology team. Three orally reported targets were confirmed as large iron vessels:


“Kinmen No. 1” Shipwreck: Depth 33 meters; visibility 0.4 meters


“Kinmen No. 2” Shipwreck: Depth 32.9 meters; visibility 0.4 meters


“Kinmen No. 3” Shipwreck: Depth 32 meters; visibility 0.4 meters


As the wreck locations are situated near historical battle zones of the Chinese Civil War, some vessels may be related to naval engagements. However, underwater visibility in the Kinmen waters is extremely poor. In addition, the proximity to the mainland coast, ongoing military surveillance, and occasional live-fire exercises have made the investigation process particularly challenging.

Keywords

Underwater ArchaeologyUnderwater Cultural HeritageKinmen WatersMaritime History

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Contact Information

許乃方
nai.hsu@gapp.nthu.edu.tw