Archaeologists have discovered a huge medieval shipwreck at the bottom of a strait off Denmark.
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The ship, about 600 years old, was a cog — a round vessel with a square sail, considered one of the most sophisticated ships of the Middle Ages. At about 28 meters long and 9 meters wide, the newly discovered vessel is the largest cog ever found, according to researchers at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark.
The wreck was found near Copenhagen, in the Øresund — known in English as “the Sound” — the strait that separates Denmark from Sweden. Researchers have described it as a “supership,” capable of transporting hundreds of tons of cargo at low cost, during a time of intense commercial growth in the 14th and 15th centuries. The discovery was made by chance, as part of seabed surveys for the creation of a new artificial island outside Copenhagen. By removing layers of sand and silt that had accumulated over centuries, the researchers revealed the outline of the ship, which they named Svælget 2, from the channel where it was found.
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Svælget 2 was preserved in excellent condition at a depth of about 13 meters. Its starboard side had been protected by sand, preserving traces of delicate equipment — something unprecedented for a wreck of this type. Researchers also discovered a brick hearth, the first ever found on a medieval ship in Danish waters, which allowed the crew to cook hot meals over an open fire. Among the finds were cooking utensils, such as pots and bowls, as well as personal items belonging to the crew, such as hair combs and prayer beads.
The ship's cargo has not yet been identified. According to researchers, the hold was not covered, causing the barrels to float away when the ship sank. However, in the absence of any evidence of military use, Svælget 2 is believed to have been a merchant ship.
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This massive ship was designed for a dangerous journey from what is now the Netherlands to the trading cities of the Baltic. A cog of this size allowed the transport of bulky everyday goods such as salt, timber, bricks and basic foodstuffs over long distances — something that, according to researchers, had previously been done mainly for luxury goods.
