They dove into Europe’s most border-crossing lake and found 31 hidden treasures from the past
A breathtaking discovery reveals ancient shipwrecks, wooden barrels, and a nearly intact cargo sailboat beneath Lake Constance.
It’s easy to think nothing on Earth can surprise us anymore. With humanity’s eyes fixed on Mars and beyond, our planet can sometimes feel fully mapped out. But that illusion fades quickly once we look beneath the surface of our lakes and oceans—worlds still brimming with secrets.
One such mystery lies in Lake Constance, Central Europe’s border lake shared by Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Stretching across 207 square miles and home to about 2.5 million residents, mostly German-speaking, the lake has just revealed an astonishing archaeological treasure trove: 31 well-preserved relics that act like time capsules from centuries past.
The lake that refuses to give up its secrets
Archaeologists working in Lake Constance recently uncovered a series of submerged sites unlike anything seen before. Among them were 17 wooden barrels, some astonishingly intact with lids, bases, and even carved markings. Their original transport ship remains unknown, but the barrels themselves provide clues to long-forgotten trade routes.
Adding to the mystery, metal hull fragments were documented using underwater robots. Experts believe these could be linked to the historic steamships SD Baden and SD Friedrichshafen II, vessels that once ferried goods and passengers across the lake.
The star find: a cargo sailboat frozen in time
The most extraordinary discovery, however, was a nearly complete cargo sailboat. Its mast and yardarm still stand, preserved as if waiting to set sail again.
For archaeologists, the find is nothing short of extraordinary. This vessel offers rare insight into historic shipbuilding techniques and the everyday goods that once traveled across the lake, connecting towns and countries long before modern highways and railways.
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