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, was found during a seabed survey conducted in preparation for a construction project in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The vessel lay on its side, partially buried in sand, approximately 12 meters below the surface of the Øresund, the strait separating Denmark and Sweden. Dendrochronological analysis, comparing tree rings from the ship's wooden planks with precisely dated tree samples, indicated that the ship was constructed around 1410 CE.
Svaelget 2 is identified as a cog, a type of merchant ship characterized by its wide, flat bottom, high sides, open cargo hold, and square sail. Cogs were widely used for trade and transport during the medieval period in Northern Europe. The ship's original name is unknown.
The discovery provides valuable information about shipbuilding techniques, trade routes, and the economic activities of the time. Further investigation of the wreck and its contents is expected to reveal more details about the ship's cargo, crew, and voyages. The Viking Ship Museum provided a photograph of the Skaelget 2 shipwreck with a diver for scale.
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