Examination of recently discovered wreck from the 17th century

Phys dot org ^ | July 28, 2022 | Kiel University

[SunkenCiv]

While conducting a routine measurement in the Trave river, the Kiel-Holtenau Waterways and Shipping Authority (Wasserstraßen- und Schifffahrtsamt/WSA) discovered a ship at a depth of eleven meters. Researchers from Kiel University spent eight months examining the puzzling construction. The result: what they had found was a nearly 400-year-old ship from the Hanseatic period with 150 barrels on board—a unique find in the western Baltic region.

What is left of the ship are wooden beams and large parts of the cargo. They are covered in mussels and must have lain there in the murky water of the Trave river for centuries. "Independent dating of the ship's timbers in three different laboratories revealed that the ship must have been constructed in the mid-17th century," said Dr. Fritz Jürgens of the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology at Kiel University... The archaeologist examined the wreck together with his team and the university's Forschungstauchzentrum (scientific diving center). Researchers from the Hanseatic City of Lübeck and the University of Göttingen also dived with him to inspect the remains of the ship.

The Institute of Geosciences at Kiel University was able to identify the cargo as lime. The ship evidently transported quicklime, which was a sought-after building material at that time. "In the Middle Ages and early modern period, limestone was quarried, fired and then extinguished. This was made into mortar," said Jürgens. According to initial findings, the ship must have been on its way from Scandinavia to Lübeck, but never made it. Further investigations are needed to determine why the Hanseatic ship sank. Initial indications suggest that the ship could have run aground on a bend in the Trave river, where it was seriously damaged and therefore sank.

[SunkenCiv]

Dr. Fritz Jürgens has reconstructed the sunken ship.

Credit: Dr. Fritz Jürgens, Kiel University

[SunkenCiv]

[Red Badger]

You put the lime in the boat and sink it all up................

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Why is the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archeology studying a 16th century shipwreck from the Hanseatic period? They put the wrong department on the job.

“Protohistoric” refers to the time period before the earliest recorded history.

[Hieronymus]

Why is the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archeology studying a 16th century shipwreck from the Hanseatic period?

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If you get grant money, you do whatever is necessary to collect the grant money.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The history of the Hanseatic League is quite fascinating. It was a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe. Growing from a few North German towns in the late 12th century, the League ultimately encompassed nearly 200 settlements across seven modern-day countries; at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries, it stretched from the Netherlands in the west to Russia in the east, and from Estonia in the north to Kraków, Poland in the south.

The original Hanseatic crane (Krantor) in Danzig (now Gdansk) was built in 1363. It was heavily damaged in WW II and rebuilt in the 1950s. This crane might have loaded and unloaded the ship they just found.

How did they power the crane, you ask? Human hamsters! Those guys must have been in great shape and eaten 10,000 calories every day they worked.

Map of Hanseatic League extent, 1400.

[SunkenCiv]

Great way to do it!

[Tennessee Nana]

about 36 feet down thats not much

Its a wonder it wasnt found long ago

[dfwgator]

I was in Gdansk last month, it’s a great place to visit, highly recommend it.

[M Kehoe]

I had mussels at Carraba’s yesterday. With a fine Sauvignon Blanc.

5.56mm

[sauropod]

.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Lucky you! My great grandfather worked for a Cologne battery company in the 1890s and worked as a sales and technical rep in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. He was assigned to the eastern outpost of Danzig and arrived there May 1, 1899 as a district manager for the battery company. He started his own battery company there which was the only one in Danzig. They lived in the Langführ district until they were evicted in 1945.

I really want to do a family genealogy tour and visit Gdansk. Our old family home is still standing there. My daughter visited there in February 2007 and saw the house!

What took you there? A pleasure trip?

[dfwgator]

Yep. I enjoy Poland. I spent a few days in Warsaw, which is a fantastic city as well. Got to stay at the Hilton in Gdansk, then went to Sopot for the day as well, which is also great.

[Grimmy]

The obvious ploy is obvious.

Baen Books and Ring of Fire Press obviously conspired to have that “wreck” placed and “found” as a means of increasing interest in the 1632 series of books and Gazette.

For realzies.

You just read it here on the internet. The internet never lies. Therefore, upso defacto, it must be true.

[Rinnwald]

I like the “five finger death punch” house.

[colorado tanker]

100 barrels of beer in the hold, 100 barrels of beer; take one down, pass it around . . .

[SunkenCiv]

That’s probably what caused the sinking. ;^)

[GingisK]

What is in the barrels?

[SunkenCiv]

We'll know more after they roll them out.

[SunkenCiv]

> The Institute of Geosciences at Kiel University was able to identify the cargo as lime. The ship evidently transported quicklime, which was a sought-after building material at that time.