Archaeologists dive into a ship graveyard in Denmark: in the abyss they have found an unusual medieval freighter

Marine archaeologists working in Danish waters have discovered what may be the largest medieval cargo ship of its kind ever documented, a find that could reshape historians’ understanding of seaborne trade in the Middle Ages.

The vessel, named Svælget 2 after the channel where it was found, was located in the Øresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden, a key maritime corridor that has linked the Baltic Sea and the North Sea for centuries.

Medieval ship found during modern construction work

The shipwreck was discovered about 43 feet below the surface during seabed surveys connected to construction of Copenhagen’s new Lynetteholm district.

Researchers from the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, which is leading the investigation, say the ship was built around 1410. It measures roughly 92 feet long, 30 feet wide and nearly 20 feet high, with an estimated carrying capacity of about 300 tons.

Those dimensions make it the largest known example of a “cog,” or coca, a type of merchant vessel that played a central role in medieval trade across northern Europe.

Vessel remarkably well preserved

Beyond its sheer size, the wreck is drawing attention for its exceptional state of preservation. Sediments protected not only the lower hull, which is typical in shipwrecks, but also parts of the rigging and upper structures that are rarely found intact.

Archaeologists also recovered everyday objects that offer a glimpse into life on board, including cooking utensils, pottery, shoes and wooden combs.

While the original cargo was not found, researchers believe goods such as barrels of salt or textiles may have been lost when the ship sank.

New insight into medieval trade networks

Experts say the discovery goes far beyond shipbuilding details. The wreck provides rare evidence about 15th-century trade routes, the scale of commercial transport and how maritime logistics were organized during the late Middle Ages.

According to the research team, the preservation of Svælget 2 allows scholars to better understand how large cargo vessels operated and how goods moved across medieval Europe.

The ship is not just a technological milestone, archaeologists say, but also a window into medieval society itself. Its enormous size reflects the economic structures and infrastructure required to support long-distance trade more than 600 years ago.

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