Archaeologists recently discovered the wreck of a large medieval cargo ship on the seafloor off the Danish coast, offering new insights into medieval trade and maritime life. The shipwreck, dubbed Svaelget 2 by researchers, was found during a seabed survey conducted in preparation for a construction project in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The vessel was located 12 meters below the surface of the Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden, lying on its side and partially buried in the sand. Through dendrochronology, a method of dating events and environmental changes by studying tree ring patterns, archaeologists determined that the ship was constructed around 1410 CE. By comparing the tree rings in the wreck's wooden planks and timbers with rings from other, precisely dated tree samples, the archaeologists concluded the ship's age.

Svaelget 2 is identified as a cog, a type of merchant ship common in the medieval period. Cogs were characterized by their wide, flat bottoms, high sides, open cargo holds, and a single square sail. These ships were crucial for transporting goods across the seas, facilitating trade and economic exchange. The ship's original name is unknown.

The discovery provides valuable information about the scale of maritime trade in the 15th century and the construction techniques used at the time. Further analysis of the shipwreck and any artifacts found within it could reveal more about the ship's cargo, its crew, and the routes it traveled. The Viking Ship Museum is credited with providing the image of the Skaelget 2 shipwreck, with a diver for scale.