Archaeologists have unearthed an enormous medieval ship off the coast of Copenhagen, providing a unique glimpse into the lives of those who sailed on these massive vessels. The 92-foot-long, 19.7-foot-high, and 29.5-foot-wide ship, named Svaelget 2, is believed to date back to around 1410 and features several remarkable discoveries that shed light on medieval trade and society.
The excavation has revealed a vessel capable of hauling an impressive 300 tons of cargo, indicating the existence of a structured system of trade throughout Northern Europe. According to Otto Uldum, excavation leader and maritime archaeologist at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark, "A ship with such a large cargo capacity is part of a structured system where merchants knew there was a market for the goods they carried."
This enormous cog represents a pivotal maritime technological advancement that revolutionized trade dynamics during the 14th and 15th centuries. Despite its massive size, the crew was surprisingly small, consisting of only a handful of individuals, who were able to sail these vessels across great distances.
The ship's incredible preservation has provided archaeologists with unique insights into the lives of medieval sailors. The discovery includes remnants of a galley built from bricks and tiles, ceramic bowls, bronze cooking pots, fish, and meat remains, as well as personal objects such as combs, rosary beads, and shoes. These finds suggest that the crew enjoyed surprising levels of comfort and organization on board.
The ship's wooden platforms at its bow and stern, known as high castles, have been confirmed by archaeological evidence for the first time, providing a tangible example of how medieval ships were designed. Additionally, the presence of a covered deck for the crew marks a significant improvement over Viking Age ships, which had only open decks.
The discovery has provided a new perspective on the lives of medieval sailors and sheds light on the organizational and technological advancements that enabled them to sail across long distances. According to Uldum, "Svælget 2 gives us a tangible piece of the puzzle and makes it possible to understand how technology and society evolved side by side in an era when shipping was the driving force behind international trade."
The excavation has revealed a vessel capable of hauling an impressive 300 tons of cargo, indicating the existence of a structured system of trade throughout Northern Europe. According to Otto Uldum, excavation leader and maritime archaeologist at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark, "A ship with such a large cargo capacity is part of a structured system where merchants knew there was a market for the goods they carried."
This enormous cog represents a pivotal maritime technological advancement that revolutionized trade dynamics during the 14th and 15th centuries. Despite its massive size, the crew was surprisingly small, consisting of only a handful of individuals, who were able to sail these vessels across great distances.
The ship's incredible preservation has provided archaeologists with unique insights into the lives of medieval sailors. The discovery includes remnants of a galley built from bricks and tiles, ceramic bowls, bronze cooking pots, fish, and meat remains, as well as personal objects such as combs, rosary beads, and shoes. These finds suggest that the crew enjoyed surprising levels of comfort and organization on board.
The ship's wooden platforms at its bow and stern, known as high castles, have been confirmed by archaeological evidence for the first time, providing a tangible example of how medieval ships were designed. Additionally, the presence of a covered deck for the crew marks a significant improvement over Viking Age ships, which had only open decks.
The discovery has provided a new perspective on the lives of medieval sailors and sheds light on the organizational and technological advancements that enabled them to sail across long distances. According to Uldum, "Svælget 2 gives us a tangible piece of the puzzle and makes it possible to understand how technology and society evolved side by side in an era when shipping was the driving force behind international trade."
! i mean i knew medieval ships were huge but wow. so it can carry like 300 tons of cargo which is crazy. and it had a galley made out of bricks and tiles, ceramic bowls... it's like they lived really well on this ship 
. i wonder how many people were on the crew though? just a handful or more? and what was it like sailing on this thing? did they have like an internet connection or something lol.
I'm thinking that's wild... I mean, can you imagine sailing on something that massive? 
And all these personal objects just lying around, like combs and rosary beads... it's like we're getting a glimpse into their daily lives. 
I wonder what other secrets this ship might hold? 
i mean, 300 tons of cargo? that's like crazy!!! 
and can u believe they found a galley built from bricks & tiles? 
what kinda orginazation were these sailors havin on board?! 
btw, high castles at the bow & stern? thats a major tech advnacement 
#MedievalMaritimeMastery #Svælget2 #TradeAndTech
. But what really gets me is how much we're still learning from this discovery. I mean, have you seen those high castles at the bow and stern? That's like, totally new info for archaeologists! It makes me think that there's still so much to uncover about our medieval past... 
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Robin M. Williams 
. I'm low-key fascinated by how they managed to preserve all those artifacts too, it's like they're saying "hey we were actually pretty comfy and organized back in the day" 
. this discovery is def changing my perspective on history and stuff, I'm totes hooked now 
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. And the fact that they had a covered deck for the crew? Game-changer 
. Otto Uldum is spot on, Svælget 2 is like a tangible piece of history that makes it easy to understand how they got from Viking Age ships to something as cool as this 
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OMG, can u believe they found this massive medieval ship off the coast of Copenhagen? 
They've got ceramic bowls, bronze pots, combs... it's all so cool 
The high castles at the bow and stern? Game changer 
. think about how hard it must have been for them to sail around on a tiny crew, and then you see all these fancy stuff they had on board like combs and rosary beads 
. anyway, not really sure what's more impressive, the ship itself or the fact that archaeologists were able to find it