Archaeologists in Denmark have unearthed a colossal medieval shipwreck, providing new insights into the lives of sailors and traders during this period. Discovered off the coast of Copenhagen, the ship's impressive size has left experts stunned.
Svaelget 2, as it has come to be known, was an enormous cog, measuring approximately 28 meters in length and 9 meters wide - significantly larger than its contemporaries. With a capacity to carry around 300 tons of cargo, this massive vessel would have been a marvel of its time.
The discovery is particularly significant because cogs were typically much smaller, ranging from 15 to 25 meters in length, with capacities of up to 200 tons. The sheer size and weight of Svaelget 2's cargo suggests that the ship was traveling with an unusually large and valuable load.
This revelation paints a new picture of medieval trade networks, highlighting the rapid growth of European economies during this period. "We now know, undeniably, that cogs could be this large," said Otto Uldum, lead archaeologist on the project. "The ship type was pushed to an extreme, reflecting both the growing wealth and power of the merchant class."
Archaeologists also found remnants of a well-organized galley, complete with stays for the mast and ropes for controlling the sail, as well as evidence of daily life on board. Personal items like combs, shoes, and rosary beads left behind by the crew hint at the comforts and routines they enjoyed while sailing.
However, something peculiar about this shipwreck is the absence of ballast stones or cargo - a common feature found in most wrecked vessels. Theories suggest that Svaelget 2 was fully loaded with valuable goods when it sank, which would have meant that its cargo was washed away by the water as it went down.
The discovery has sparked renewed interest in our understanding of medieval trade and shipbuilding practices. By studying this colossal cog and uncovering more about its construction, crew, and travels, archaeologists are gaining a deeper insight into life at sea during this period - an era marked by remarkable growth and innovation.
Svaelget 2, as it has come to be known, was an enormous cog, measuring approximately 28 meters in length and 9 meters wide - significantly larger than its contemporaries. With a capacity to carry around 300 tons of cargo, this massive vessel would have been a marvel of its time.
The discovery is particularly significant because cogs were typically much smaller, ranging from 15 to 25 meters in length, with capacities of up to 200 tons. The sheer size and weight of Svaelget 2's cargo suggests that the ship was traveling with an unusually large and valuable load.
This revelation paints a new picture of medieval trade networks, highlighting the rapid growth of European economies during this period. "We now know, undeniably, that cogs could be this large," said Otto Uldum, lead archaeologist on the project. "The ship type was pushed to an extreme, reflecting both the growing wealth and power of the merchant class."
Archaeologists also found remnants of a well-organized galley, complete with stays for the mast and ropes for controlling the sail, as well as evidence of daily life on board. Personal items like combs, shoes, and rosary beads left behind by the crew hint at the comforts and routines they enjoyed while sailing.
However, something peculiar about this shipwreck is the absence of ballast stones or cargo - a common feature found in most wrecked vessels. Theories suggest that Svaelget 2 was fully loaded with valuable goods when it sank, which would have meant that its cargo was washed away by the water as it went down.
The discovery has sparked renewed interest in our understanding of medieval trade and shipbuilding practices. By studying this colossal cog and uncovering more about its construction, crew, and travels, archaeologists are gaining a deeper insight into life at sea during this period - an era marked by remarkable growth and innovation.
The fact that it was carrying such a massive cargo load is just mind-blowing! Like, these sailors were on top of their game back in medieval times 
. And the personal items they found on board? So cool! I wanna know more about those rosary beads and combs - what kind of people lived on this ship? 
The theories about why there's no ballast stones or cargo are so fascinating too... maybe it was just a really heavy load that got swept away by the water when it sank 
. Anyway, can't wait to learn more about Svaelget 2 and what secrets it still holds! 
. I mean, that's a lot of goods! It's giving us new insights into medieval trade networks and how European economies grew during this period 
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. I guess you could say Svaelget 2 was living its best life at sea back in the day 
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. Who knows, maybe we'll discover even more secrets about our maritime past 
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or maybe they just wanted to make a serious dent in trade? either way, it's awesome to think about all the goods they must've had on board 
combs, shoes, rosary beads... it's crazy how much we can learn from something like this 
I'm low-key obsessed with this new discovery! I mean, can you imagine sailing on a ship that's like 28 meters long? Mind-blowing! The fact that it was carrying such a massive cargo load suggests that these medieval sailors were basically millionaires back then 
. And the personal items found on board are so cool - combs, shoes, rosary beads... it's like they were living their best lives at sea! But what's really got me intrigued is the mystery surrounding the shipwreck itself. No ballast stones or cargo? That's wild. It's like this ship was just too valuable to sink 
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. Still, I suppose it's cool that we get to learn more about medieval trade and life at sea during that time period... but let's not get too carried away with our excitement just yet 
they found personal items like combs and rosary beads which is so cool, i wanna know more about the daily life on board 
. I mean, Svaelget 2 is massive, like, what was it carrying all that weight for? And no ballast stones? That's just wild. I bet the crew was loaded up with gold and spices and who knows what else. The fact that they didn't even need cargo is mind-blowing. It's like this ship was built for speed or something. And those personal items they found, combs and rosary beads... it just shows you how normal life was on the high seas back then. I'm obsessed with learning more about this thing. 
i don't know, maybe i'm just overthinking it...
. And what's so cool is how this discovery changes our understanding of medieval trade and shipbuilding practices. I mean, we always knew cogs were important, but this one takes it to a whole new level 
. And y'know what's wild? They found all these personal items on board, like combs and rosary beads... it's like they were livin their best lives at sea 
. I love how it shows that medieval sailors weren't just about plunderin and pillagin... there was actual daily life goin on