More than 20,000 pieces of ancient Chinese porcelain fragments have been discovered at an archaeological site in Duchang county, East China’s Jiangxi Province.

They were found at an underwater archaeological site close to the local Huangjinshan water area, which is part of Jiangxi’s distinctive Poyang Lake. A total of 33 bags of Chinese porcelain pieces were discovered.

The fragments were identified as parts of ancient cups, plates and candle holders.

Chinese archaeologist Wang Meng told the Global Times that they have unique Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) aesthetics. They are similar to porcelain found at the Hutian kiln site at Jingdezhen, also in Jiangxi province. Jingdezhen is renowned as an ancient center of porcelain production.

Zhang Wenjiang, a researcher with the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, said it shows that where the fragments were found is “a major underwater site.”

The artifacts not only reflect the booming porcelain industry of Jingdezhen during ancient times, but also show that Poyang Lake was an “important passage for ancient porcelain trading, dating back to the Yuan Dynasty,” Zhang said.