Shipwreck of a Unique Ancient Vessel Designed to Carry Heavy Cannons Found in Sweden Amazes Archaeologists

Over the centuries all modes of transport have undergone massive development. This mainly happens because of society's increasing demand for transportation and movement. A specimen uncovered off the coast of Sweden showcased to archaeologists how vessels transformed to keep up with increasing requirements, stated Live Science. The finding, located at Landfjärden, south of Stockholm, was analyzed by maritime archaeologists working with Vrak, the museum of wrecks in Stockholm.

The vessel in question was revealed to be a 15th-century shipwreck by experts. The vessel stood apart from other similar structures because it was possibly the oldest shipwreck built in the 'carvel' style that had been uncovered by archaeologists. The carvel style essentially provides the ship with enough strength to carry heavy objects like cannons.

Initially, the ship, along with four others found in the same area, was assumed to have been built in the Viking Age (A.D. 793 to 1066). In 2024, experts announced this assertion to be wrong and claimed that four of the wrecks were built somewhere in the 1600s and 1700s, while the oldest was created before 1480.  "It's a large ship, likely about 35 meters [115 feet] long and 10 meters [33 feet] wide," museum curator and project manager Håkan Altrock said about the oldest vessel. "The ship's frame still rises high above the seabed, and in the stern, both the sternpost and rudder remain upright." Examinations revealed that the oldest ship was made from the wood of a tree that grew in Sweden's southern Kalmar region or the nearby Blekinge region.

The oldest shipwreck was named Vrak 5. Researchers called it their 'most intriguing' find in the collection.  "We have confidently dated it to the 1480s, though the ship might have been built as early as the 1460s and later repaired in the 1480s," Altrock said, according to Vrak.

The experts noted that the vessel had several planks on the hull. The planks were arranged in such a manner that they provided a sturdy base to the vessel, giving it more strength to carry heavy objects. The organization of planks was different from what was noted in traditional Nordic ships, such as Viking longships. The traditional vessels had a clinker style, in which the planks overlapped rather than being flush around each other. The overlapping facilitated flexibility in the ship, while the latter made it firmer. The carvel innovation arrived from the Mediterranean, where it came into existence in the seventh century A.D. "Unlike the prevailing clinker-built ships of the time, where planks overlap, this vessel was built using the carvel method, with planks laid edge to edge on a frame to create a smooth hull," Altrock explained.

The innovation began to be put into use in Stockholm around the 15th century when vessels started to carry heavy cannons. The style proved to be so popular that 'clinker' ships slowly disappeared. Archaeologists are hopeful that the examinations will help them to understand the adaptations made by the then engineers to change styles. "We plan to apply for external funding for an excavation," Altrock said. "This ship represents a fascinating link between medieval and modern shipbuilding. It has the potential to provide us with valuable new insights into an important period in Sweden’s maritime history."