Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery off the coast of Copenhagen, Denmark, uncovering a massive medieval ship that sheds light on the lives of those who sailed on it. The vessel, named Svaelget 2, is the world's largest known cog, a type of merchant ship that revolutionized trade in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages.
Dating back to approximately 1410, Svaelget 2 measures an astonishing 92 feet in length, 19.7 feet high, and 29.5 feet wide, making it significantly larger than its Viking Age counterparts. The ship's enormous cargo capacity is estimated to be around 300 tons, suggesting a highly structured system of trade that connected Northern Europe.
According to excavation leader Otto Uldum, the discovery provides tangible evidence of the sophisticated maritime technology that enabled the efficient and cheap transportation of goods during the Middle Ages. "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," Uldum explained.
The findings also reveal surprisingly high levels of organization and comfort on board, including a brick galley where people could cook over an open fire, ceramic bowls, bronze cooking pots, and even personal items like combs and rosary beads. These discoveries provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the crew who sailed on Svaelget 2.
One mystery remains: what was the ship's cargo? The team hasn't identified any evidence of military activity or valuable luxury goods, suggesting that the vessel was used for trade rather than war. However, the discovery does confirm medieval cog features previously seen in illustrations but never confirmed by strong archaeological evidence, including wooden platforms at the bow and stern called high castles.
Svaelget 2's incredible preservation is providing a vital piece of the puzzle that helps to understand how technology and society evolved side by side during this pivotal era. As Uldum noted, "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."
Dating back to approximately 1410, Svaelget 2 measures an astonishing 92 feet in length, 19.7 feet high, and 29.5 feet wide, making it significantly larger than its Viking Age counterparts. The ship's enormous cargo capacity is estimated to be around 300 tons, suggesting a highly structured system of trade that connected Northern Europe.
According to excavation leader Otto Uldum, the discovery provides tangible evidence of the sophisticated maritime technology that enabled the efficient and cheap transportation of goods during the Middle Ages. "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," Uldum explained.
The findings also reveal surprisingly high levels of organization and comfort on board, including a brick galley where people could cook over an open fire, ceramic bowls, bronze cooking pots, and even personal items like combs and rosary beads. These discoveries provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the crew who sailed on Svaelget 2.
One mystery remains: what was the ship's cargo? The team hasn't identified any evidence of military activity or valuable luxury goods, suggesting that the vessel was used for trade rather than war. However, the discovery does confirm medieval cog features previously seen in illustrations but never confirmed by strong archaeological evidence, including wooden platforms at the bow and stern called high castles.
Svaelget 2's incredible preservation is providing a vital piece of the puzzle that helps to understand how technology and society evolved side by side during this pivotal era. As Uldum noted, "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, can you even imagine what it would've been like on this massive cog back in 1410? Like, you're talking about a ship that's almost as long as two school buses 
. And to think they had all these little luxuries on board, like combs and rosary beads 
. It just goes to show how much more complex and organized life must've been back then.
. And yet, we don't know what they were carrying 
. Was it spices? textiles? who knows? It's like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold and jewels, they're uncovering pieces of history 
.
. I mean, the technology back then was so advanced for its time. It's amazing to see how it all came together – the sailing, the cargo, the living quarters... it's like a puzzle, and Svaelget 2 is giving us the missing pieces 
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. It's like getting a glimpse into a different world, one that's both familiar and foreign at the same time 
.
Can you imagine being on board Svaelget 2, watching your fellow crew members cook over a brick fire? 
They must've had some pretty cool cargo management systems to fit that many tons of goods. I wish we could dig deeper into what kind of stuff they were shipping – were they just trading in grains and textiles or was it something more valuable like spices or precious metals? The high castles and wooden platforms are so cool, too - must've been super useful for navigating those medieval waters 
But what really gets me is how this discovery is helpin us understand how tech & society evolved together - it's like we're piecin together a puzzle, and Svaelget 2 is a vital piece! 
, anyway back to this ship, 92 feet is crazy, I wonder if they could fit like 10 people inside the galley while cooking over an open flame, that sounds kinda cramped lol. What's interesting is how much organization went into building this thing, it makes sense why they had all those personal items on board too, you never know when someone might get seasick and need a rosary bead or combs nearby 
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. And the fact that it was used for trade instead of war is just fascinating... now if only we could figure out what exactly it was carrying 
that's insane! i mean, it's like 92 feet long which is huge for back then 
and they had a brick galley 
ceramic bowls 
and even combs 
what was the cargo tho?? 
anyway, i'm hyped for this discovery! archaeologists are like the real-life detectives uncovering secrets from the past 
. I love how they found all these personal items on board too, it's like we're gettin' a glimpse into their daily lives, you know? 
And the fact that they didn't find any military stuff or luxury goods is pretty interesting, maybe it was just a big cargo ship for trade purposes 
. Can't wait to see what other cool stuff comes outta this excavation 
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what do u think they were carrying tho? maybe it was full of beer haha
. But what's up with the lack of treasure or war stuff, do you think they were just tryin' to avoid all that drama?
92 feet long is insane! and the fact that it had all these luxuries on board is wild 
and saw this massive driftwood sculpture that's like 10 feet long... I mean, can you believe they found a ship that's over 90 feet long? 
And what's with the high castles at the bow and stern? Are those like giant catwalks or something? 
Svælget 2 is like, the OG merchant ship that changed everything for trade in Northern Europe back in the day! 
