Archaeologists recently discovered the wreck of an enormous 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 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. Through dendrochronology, the analysis of tree rings, 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 age of the ship could be accurately determined.

Svaelget 2 is identified as a cog, a type of merchant ship characterized by its wide, flat-bottomed hull, high sides, open cargo hold, and square sail. Cogs were widely used for trade and transportation during the medieval period, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. The ship's original name has been lost to history.

The discovery provides valuable information about shipbuilding techniques, trade routes, and the economic activities of the time. The size of Svaelget 2 suggests a significant capacity for cargo, indicating the scale of medieval maritime trade. Further analysis of the ship's construction and any remaining cargo could reveal details about the goods traded and the origins of the materials used. The Viking Ship Museum is credited with providing the image of the Skaelget 2 shipwreck with a diver for scale.