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 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. Tree-ring dating of the ship's wooden planks and timbers indicated it was constructed around 1410 CE, according to researchers.

Svaelget 2 is identified as a cog, a type of merchant ship characterized by a wide, flat-bottomed hull, high sides, an open cargo hold, and a square sail. The ship's original name has been lost to history. The Viking Ship Museum provided credit for images of the wreck, which included a diver for scale.

The discovery provides valuable information about the scale and nature of maritime trade in the medieval period. Cogs were commonly used for transporting goods across the Baltic Sea and other European waterways. The size of Svaelget 2 suggests a significant capacity for cargo, highlighting the economic importance of maritime routes during that era.

Further analysis of the shipwreck and its contents is expected to reveal more details about the types of goods transported, the ship's crew, and the daily life of seafarers in the 15th century. The archaeological team plans to continue its investigation of the site, documenting the wreck and recovering artifacts for further study.