What Porcelain, O This Porcelain?

Chinese police recovered 21 pieces of porcelain from a fishing boat and another 117 pieces from others. When asked where the porcelain came from, the owner claimed that divers recovered the relics “by accident”. Apparently, they just fell into their wetsuits. Happens to me all the time.

In actuality an illegal salvage operation was being conducted. Chinese archaeologists discovered the wreck, now referred to as South China Sea II, laden with Ming Dynasty porcelain in 20m of water. The ship is over 400 years old and probably struck a reef.