Mystery shipwreck found in central Stockholm [ Sweden ]

The Local ^ | Thanksgiving Day 2010 | TT/AFP

[SunkenCiv]

The remains of a ship dating from the 1600s have been discovered outside the Grand Hotel in central Stockholm.

The vessel was built with an almost completely unknown technology, delighting archaeologists. The planks of the ship are not nailed down, but sewn together with rope.

The discovery was made by labourers close to the royal palace and in front of Stockholm's Grand Hotel during renovation works to a quay.

"The discovery of the wreck is extremely interesting given the place where it was made. There was a naval shipyard on this spot until the start of the 17th century," Maritime Museum director Hans-Lennarth Ohlsson said in a statement...

With the exception of another ship found in 1896, all other shipwrecks uncovered in and around the Stockholm harbour have featured planks that were nailed together.

"We really know nothing about this technique other than that it was used in the east," added Hansson.

Hansson guesses that the ship is from east of the Baltics, possibly from Russia. The ship's position, well into the quay, reveals that it is from the 1600s or earlier. The wreck was not necessarily linked to the yard, however, and archaeologists have been unable to say how long before 1700 it might have sunk...

In 1961, the Vasa, a Swedish warship, was salvaged from just outside Stockholm harbour. The ship, which foundered on her maiden voyage in 1628, was largely intact and has since become one of Sweden's most popular tourist attractions.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

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[Hatteras]

"The planks of the ship are not nailed down, but sewn together with rope."

Which is probably the reason it was a shipwreck.

Hmmmm... well I guess that didn't work, Olaf, maybe we should try nails...

[Cowman]

The vessel was built with an almost completely unknown technology,

Is David Hackworth and the alien/Nazi tech team going to do a report on this?

[maryz]

With the exception of another ship found in 1896, all other shipwrecks uncovered in and around the Stockholm harbour have featured planks that were nailed together.

Wonder what the "ship found in 1896" was held together with -- not nails or rope! Maybe it was carved in one piece from a really big tree . . . but you'd think they'd mention that . . .

[maryz]

BTW, how do you "sew" planks together with rope? As opposed to tying them together, I mean. Serious question -- I wish they'd included a diagram or something.

And how are they sure about the rope? Wouldn't it have disintegrated over a few hundred years?

It really is amazing how little I know about ship-building, I guess! :(

[BitWielder1]

Which is probably the reason it was a shipwreck.

I'm with you. The Vasa sank on it's maiden voyage because it was a poor top-heavy design.
This new shipwreck sounds like another victim of natural selection.

[hondact200]

Came from the east baltic states or Russia. Notice it must have gotten to sweden and then sunk or was sunk. In the cold depths virtually evrything is preservd, so the wood would not rot.

I figured it out it is was a Polish Man of War Ship and it invaded Sweden and it sunk. there is an old saying how do you sink a Polish Ship - put it in water. No offense to Poles.

[decimon]

Ancient peoples knew full well that you learn from experience. The credo of experimental shipbuilders was, “If they drown, they drown.”

[Little Ray]

Actually, that's not a “completely unknown technology.”
It also turns out relatively flexible ship that that is resistant to the waves. Sort of “goes with the flow” as it were.

I guess it was just unknown in Scandinavia.

[hondact200]

Just so you are aware the Baltic states (Estonia, Lativa and Lithunia) were considerd part of Poland in 1600. There were a series of wars between Poland and Sweden from 1599 - 1611 (treaty signed in 1608) and again in the 1620s. the Polish Naval Fleet was in its infancy, however it used modern naval tactics.

So my joke and hypothese about the Polish Navy may just pay off.

[Fractal Trader]

The swedes seem to cherish their sunken boats. For example, take the Vasa Museum, dedicated to a sunken boat.

[BenLurkin]

Exactly.

[BenLurkin]

"There goes our construction schedule...."

[colorado tanker]

Poland/Lithuania in 1600, at its greatest extent. Much of the Baltic Coast was lost to Sweden in the mid-century invasions by Sweden and Russia.

[Ole Okie]

Is David Hackworth and the alien/Nazi tech team going to do a report on this?

It's a "Perfumed Prince" ship.

[SunkenCiv]

At the peak, the Grand Duchy stretched between the Baltic and the Black Seas. Didn’t last long though.

[wildbill]

Drove it right up on the quay, eh?

“What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?”

[colorado tanker]

Poland has an unfortunate geography, being situated between the Germans and Russians.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, nobody had a gun to their head to move there. ;’)