Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Medieval Ship Discovery Reveals Trade Insights
A big old ship from the 1400s was found under the water near Denmark.
It's called Svælget 2 and is the biggest of its kind ever found.
This ship was used to carry lots of goods like wood, salt, and food between different places in Europe.
The ship is really well preserved, so scientists can learn a lot about how people built and used ships a long time ago.
They found parts of the ship, like the kitchen and the crew's living area, along with some personal items that sailors used.
This discovery helps us understand how trade worked in the Middle Ages and how people traveled and did business back then.
A massive medieval cog ship, Svælget 2, was discovered in the Sound between Denmark and Sweden.
The ship measures 28 meters long, 9 meters wide, and 6 meters tall, with a cargo capacity of up to 300 tonnes.
Built around 1410, the ship's timber came from Pomerania (Poland) and the Netherlands, indicating complex medieval trade networks.
The well-preserved wreck includes an entire side of the vessel, rigging, a stern castle, a galley, and personal items like shoes and rosary beads.
The discovery provides insights into medieval shipbuilding, trade routes, and daily life on board merchant ships.
- Who
- Maritime archaeologists from Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum
- What
- Discovered the largest known medieval cog ship, Svælget 2
- When
- During underwater surveys linked to the development of Copenhagen’s new Lynetteholm district
- Where
- In the Sound, between Denmark and Sweden
- Why
- To study the construction, operation, and trade significance of medieval ships
- Ship Name
- Svælget 2
- Discovery Location
- The Sound, between Denmark and Sweden
- Ship Dimensions
- 28 meters long, 9 meters wide, 6 meters tall
- Cargo Capacity
- Up to 300 tonnes
- Construction Year
- Around 1410
- Timber Sources
- Oak from Pomerania (Poland) and internal frames from the Netherlands
- Depth of Discovery
- 13 meters
- Preserved Features
- Entire side of the vessel, rigging, stern castle, galley, and personal items