Archaeologists find a supersized medieval shipwreck in Denmark

In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a colossal medieval cargo ship on the seabed near Denmark. This significant find provides fresh insights into the dynamics of maritime trade and life at sea during that era. The shipwreck was located during a survey conducted in advance of a construction project in Copenhagen. Resting on its side and partially buried in sand, the ship lies approximately 12 meters beneath the turbulent waters of the Øresund Strait, which separates Denmark from Sweden. By analyzing the tree rings found in the ship's wooden structure and comparing them with dated samples from other trees, the researchers determined the vessel was constructed around the year 1410 CE. Named Svaelget 2, a title assigned by archaeologists as the original name is lost to time, this ship is classified as a cog—a type of merchant vessel characterized by its wide, flat bottom, high sides, and a square sail mounted on a single mast. The cog represents a more advanced and larger evolution of the Viking knarrs from previous centuries, functioning as the equivalent of a supertanker in its day. Designed to transport bulky goods from Dutch ports, navigating around Denmark and southward through the Øresund to Baltic trading hubs, this particular ship, unfortunately, met a watery fate before completing its journey. While most cogs typically measured between 15 to 25 meters in length and 5 to 8 meters in width with a cargo capacity of about 200 tons, Svaelget 2 astounds with its dimensions of approximately 28 meters in length and 9 meters in width, boasting a potential cargo capacity of around 300 tons. The sheer size of this vessel has left archaeologists both surprised and intrigued.