Giant Medieval Shipwreck Discovered in Denmark
▼ Summary
– Archaeologists discovered a large medieval cargo shipwreck off the Danish coast during a seabed survey for a Copenhagen construction project.
– The ship, named Svaelget 2, was identified as a cog, a wide, flat-bottomed merchant vessel used for bulk trade in the region.
– Through tree-ring analysis of its timbers, researchers determined the ship was built around 1410 CE.
– Svaelget 2 was exceptionally large for its type, measuring about 28 meters long and capable of carrying roughly 300 tons of cargo.
– Its size and location reveal it was a major trade vessel that sank while likely transporting goods between the Netherlands and Baltic ports.
A remarkable discovery on the seafloor near Copenhagen has unveiled a colossal medieval cargo ship, offering a fresh window into the bustling maritime trade networks of Northern Europe. The well-preserved wreck, found during a routine seabed survey for a construction project, lies in the Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden. Detailed analysis of the ship’s timber has pinpointed its construction to the year 1410, providing a precise historical anchor for this significant find.
The vessel, now called the Svaelget 2, is a type of merchant ship known as a cog. These were the workhorses of medieval commerce, characterized by their wide, flat-bottomed hulls, high sides, and a single square sail. Representing an evolution from earlier Viking knarrs, the cog was essentially the advanced supertanker of its era, engineered to transport massive quantities of goods. This particular ship was likely on a standard trading route, carrying bulky commodities from Dutch ports north around Denmark and through the Øresund to Baltic markets, a journey it tragically failed to complete.
What makes the Svaelget 2 extraordinary is its sheer scale. While most cogs of the period measured between 15 and 25 meters long, this vessel was a behemoth. Stretching an impressive 28 meters from bow to stern and 9 meters wide, it could have hauled roughly 300 tons of cargo. Its immense size came as a genuine surprise to the research team, challenging previous assumptions about the scale of medieval shipbuilding and the volume of goods moved across these waters. The wreck, resting on its side half-buried in sand, presents a stunning snapshot of maritime history frozen in time.
(Source: Ars Technica)
