The vast bulk of the Tang shipwreck’s cargo was made in the kilns of Changsha, Hunan province. Some 57,500 pieces were recovered, testament to mass production and commerce in the 9th century. Changsha ceramics were popular both within China and abroad. Significant quantities have been excavated at Yangzhou, the main port where the wares were stored before being shipped.Changsha was isolated from the Tang capital at Chang’an (today Xi’an) as well as from the commercial centres on the coast. Because of this, Changsha potters developed a distinctive style of decoration, using green and brown glazes. A few items recovered from the Tang Shipwreck provide tantalizing glimpses of life on board. This Changsha ceramic most likely functioned as an oil lamp. The Tang Shipwreck is a 9th century vessel that was en route from China back to the Middle East when it sank off the coast of Belitung Island in the Java Sea.
