Chinese ceramics discovery provides crucial clues

He added that his research had resulted in Chinese ceramics being unearthed at 100 sites in the West Indian Ocean area.

Kennet and Zhang said the discovery in the UAE of the green-glazed Longquan ceramics, along with blue-and-white porcelain, proved crucial in understanding how the Maritime Silk Road operated and the "massive trade system that existed" at the time.

The Maritime Silk Road refers to a section of the Silk Road connecting China to the West, boosting trade, development and culture, while also connecting with Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula.

Kennet said: "You can imagine those ceramics being manufactured in Zhejiang province or perhaps in the Jingdezhen kilns. (Jingdezhen is a city in present-day Jiangxi province). The ceramics were carried overland by Chinese merchants and also transported by boat from Chinese ports, making their way across the Indian Ocean－a journey of more than 10,000 kilometers."

Chinese ceramic sherds have also been found in Minab, Hormuz Island and Kish Island in Iran.

In 2016, the project team from the University of Durham formed a partnership with the Palace Museum in Beijing to further research on China's maritime trade and how it developed in the Middle East from the Tang to the Song dynasties.

The UK and Chinese teams also worked alongside representatives from Ras al-Khaimah's Department of Antiquities and Museums.