Colossal 600-year-old medieval ‘super ship’ discovered off the coast of Denmark is ‘largest ever found’

The remains of a medieval ‘supership’ have been discovered off the coast of Denmark, representing the largest of its kind ever found.

Dating back 600 years, the ship is an extraordinarily large cog; It is the most important cargo ship of the Middle Ages.

It is estimated to be approximately 28 meters (92 ft) long, nine meters (30 ft) wide and six meters (20 ft) high, and capable of carrying around 300 tonnes (300,000 kg) of cargo.

This makes it the world’s largest cog ever found and provides an unprecedented insight into life at sea in the 1400s.

Named ‘Svælget 2’ after the channel in which it was found, the ship is extremely well preserved and even preserves traces of its rigging system, which consists of ropes, cables and rigging required to support and move loads.

Divers even uncovered painted wooden plates, shoes, combs and rosary beads, offering a glimpse into the life of the ship’s crew.

They also uncovered the extensive remains of a stern fortress made of real wood, an enclosed deck where the crew could take shelter and be relatively protected.

“The find is a milestone for maritime archaeology,” said excavation leader Otto Uldum. ‘This is the largest cog we know of and offers us a unique opportunity to understand both the construction and life on board of the largest merchant ships of the Middle Ages.’

It is estimated to be approximately 28 meters long, nine meters wide and six meters high and capable of carrying approximately 300 tonnes (300,000 kg) of cargo.

They also uncovered the extensive remains of a stern fortress made of real wood, an enclosed deck where the crew could take shelter and be relatively protected. Pictured: A computer-generated gear, complete with fore and aft castles (file image)

Experts at the Viking Ship Museum in Denmark said the cogwheel was an efficient type of ship that could be handled by a fairly small crew, even if heavily loaded.

They were built around Skagen to make the perilous journey from what is now the Netherlands across the Sound to the trading towns of the Baltic.

This wreck was excavated at a depth of 13 metres, where it was protected from the forces that normally destroy ships close to shore.

The sand cover provided extensive protection to the ship and provided never-before-documented archaeological evidence.

This includes castles; wooden platforms at each end of the ship, known from numerous paintings but never found.

“We have a lot of castle drawings, but they were never found because usually only the bottom part of the ship survives,” Mr Uldum said.

‘This time we have archaeological evidence.’

He explained that the introduction of castles represented a ‘huge step forward’ compared to Viking age ships, which had open decks in all weather conditions.

The wreck was excavated at a depth of 13 metres, protected from the forces that normally destroy ships close to shore.

Archaeologists used special ‘underwater vacuum cleaners’ to remove centuries-old sand and silt from shipwreck

Another big surprise was the discovery of the ship’s brick galley, the oldest of its kind in Danish waters.

This was where the crew could cook over an open fire. Approximately 200 bricks and 15 tiles formed the galley; archaeologists found bronze pots, ceramic bowls, and fish and meat remains in the same area.

“We have never before seen a brick kitchen on a medieval ship in Danish waters,” Mr Uldum said.

‘He speaks of the exceptional comfort and organization on board. ‘Sailors will now be able to eat hot meals similar to those on land, instead of the dried and cold foods that previously dominated marine life.’

In the galley area, archaeologists also uncovered fragments of the crew’s tableware and pots used for cooking, as well as remains of provisions such as fish and meat, and hundreds of finely cut sticks that may have been used for stocking fish.

One of the biggest questions is what the massive ship might be carrying, and so far researchers have found no trace of the cargo.

The ship’s hold was not closed, so salt barrels or bundles of fabric would fly away during the sinking. The same will likely be true for timber, the team said.

The absence of ballast indicates that the ship was filled to the brim with heavy merchandise.

Divers even uncovered painted wooden plates, shoes, combs and rosary beads, offering a glimpse into the life of the ship’s crew

A pot found in the wreck of a medieval ship. Experts describe the find as a ‘milestone for marine archaeology’

Despite the missing cargo, there is no doubt that Svælget 2 was a merchant ship, experts added. Archaeologists have found no trace of military use.

Parts of the ship are currently preserved in the National Museum in Brede.

‘We now know undeniably that gears can be this large and the ship type can be pushed to this extreme,’ Mr Uldum concluded.

‘Svælget 2 gives us a concrete piece of the puzzle and enables us to understand how technology and society developed side by side in an age where shipping was the driving force behind international trade.’