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

The vessel lay approximately 12 meters below the surface of the Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden, half-buried in the sand. Through dendrochronology, a method of dating events and environmental changes by studying tree ring patterns, archaeologists determined 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 were able to pinpoint the construction date.

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 features made them well-suited for carrying large quantities of goods across relatively shallow waters. The ship's original name is unknown.

The discovery offers a valuable opportunity to study medieval maritime technology, trade routes, and shipbuilding techniques. Further investigation of the wreck and its contents is expected to reveal more about the types of goods transported, the ship's crew, and the daily life of seafarers during the 15th century. The Viking Ship Museum provided the credit for the image of the Skaelget 2 shipwreck, which included a diver for scale.