A 12th-centruy ship carrying thousands of pieces of high-quality celadon from the Goryeo Dynasty has been found off the coast of Taean, South Chungcheong Province.

The National Maritime Museum said that its archaeologists discovered the ancient sunken vessel during an underwater search in the region where a fisherman netted several pieces of Goryeo green porcelain.

The sunken ship lying east to west revealed a wide range of porcelain types, which had not been found in earlier excavations.

The ship was apparently wrecked en route from the production site Kangjin, South Jeolla Province, to the ancient dynasty’s capital of Gaegyeong.

The head of the museum said that the porcelain is of high quality. The items vary in purpose and reveal numerous surface patterns, glazes, types of clay and burning techniques.