If you ever think you've missed an opportunity, spare a thought for the pirates who cruised the South China Sea centuries ago. It turns out that underwater treasure hunting requires more than just a hook for a hand and a good eye for buried treasure maps. Nearly 1,000 pieces of treasure were recently recovered from a pair of ancient shipwrecks discovered about 5,000 feet underwater near the northwest continental slope of the South China Sea.

Deep Dive for Deep Pockets

The shipwrecks, stumbled upon in 2022, contained an impressive assortment of artifacts. The treasure trove includes copper coins, porcelain, pottery items, lumber, turban shells, and your classic deer antlers—you know, the usual things you pack for a long sea voyage. These items hail from the Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. Future archaeologists will surely puzzle over why anyone thought porcelain was essential for maritime adventures.

Submersible Tech Meets Treasure Hunting

To retrieve this underwater bounty, the Chinese employed a crewed submersible known as the 'Deep Sea Warrior'. Picture a robotic claw adept at picking up centuries-old artifacts like a pro at an arcade claw machine. The National Cultural Heritage Administration did everyone a favor by releasing images of the retrieved treasure as well as photos of the 'Deep Sea Warrior' doing its thing, making it abundantly clear that technology and patience trumped pirate bravado in this underwater venture.

Territorial Trophies

Beyond the excitement of treasure hunting, China is also using this discovery to reinforce its territorial claims over the South China Sea. This region not only serves as an important historical trade route, famously known as the ancient Maritime Silk Road, but is also the subject of intricate territorial disputes. Six countries lay claim to parts of the South China Sea, including China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia. With everyone wanting a piece of this salty pie, it’s no surprise that historical finds turn into modern-day political chess pieces.

The Fine Print

Of course, for every grand claim of new discoveries, there's always a pesky detail or two. An international court ruled in 2016 that major elements of China's claims in the South China Sea were unlawful. It seems no matter how shiny the found coins are, there will always be a courtroom ready to inflate an ancient maritime dispute.

So, the moral of the story is straightforward. If you’re planning to be a pirate, make sure you've got a fleet of submersibles and a flair for international legal proceedings. The days of “X marks the spot” are long gone; nowadays, the real treasure hunt occurs 5,000 feet underwater, hopefully minus the kraken.