Excavation of old Chinese warship underway

Chinese archaeologists will begin a new round of underwater excavation after a famed warship of China's last imperial Qing Dynasty was discovered in the depths of the Yellow Sea.
The shipwreck that was code-named "Dandong No 1" has been tentatively identified as the Cruiser Zhiyuan of the Beiyang Fleet.
But Song Jianzhong with the National Centre of Underwater Cultural Heritage said it is still too early to make a final conclusion on the ship and its history.
"The relics and information currently in hand indicates it's the wreck of the warship Zhiyuan, but more work needs to be done before the publishing of the final conclusion."

The shipwreck was first discovered in 2013.
In the past month, over a hundred relics have been salvaged from the depths of the Yellow Sea, including canons, shells, and other artillery, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The most crucial evidence for the ship's identity was a shattered porcelain plate with the word 'Zhiyuan' inscribed in the middle of its back.
The Qing dynasty, or the Manchu dynasty, was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917.
It was preceded by the Ming dynasty.