The National Cultural Heritage Administration on Sunday announced the discovery of two ancient shipwrecks found 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) below the surface of the South China Sea. Photo: Luo Yunfei/China News Service, VCG

Attendees of Sunday’s press conference in Sanya, South China’s Hainan province, look at a video of the porcelain bowls found among the cargo of one of the sunken ships. The two shipwrecks discovered in October probably date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Photo: Luo Yunfei/China News Service, VCG

Cultural items lie partially buried in the sea bed at the site of the first shipwreck, which researchers named Northwest Continental Slope No. 1 Shipwreck. The site probably dates back to the period of Emperor Zhengde (1506-1521). Photo: Screenshot from CCTV

The cargo of the first shipwreck lie scattered across an area of about 10,000 square meters (2.5 acres). Researchers believed the site contains more than 100,000 items, primarily porcelain wares. Photo: Courtesy of National Cultural Heritage Administration

Researchers found wooden logs and a few ceramic items at the second shipwreck site. Photo: Courtesy of National Cultural Heritage Administration

The second site, which dates back to approximately the reign of Emperor Hongzhi (1488-1505), is about 20 kilometers from the first site. Photo: Courtesy of National Cultural Heritage Administration

A submersible called Deep Sea Warrior dives into the South China Sea during the investigation into the two shipwrecks Saturday. The investigation will last through June. Photo: Courtesy of National Cultural Heritage Administration