TUYEN QUANG (VNS)— Archaeologists this week unearthed an old cargo ship that had sunk in the Lo River in An Khang Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.

The 41m-wide and 8.8m-large wooden ship is thought to date back to the late 19th century and was discovered in excellent condition.

Experts found five bronze oil lamps in the ship and several glass light bulbs originating from Britain and Germany.

According to experts from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Antiques Evaluation Council, the steam-powered ship may have witnessed the French colonialism period in Viet Nam, or even the anti-colonialist uprisings in the northern Tuyen Quang Province.

Tuyen Quang Province is planning to surface the ship, which is a rare find, for preservation at a local museum.-VNS