Danish archaeologists have made a significant historical discovery by unearthing the remains of the world’s largest cog ship, known as Svælget 2, in the waters off Copenhagen. This remarkable find occurred after the ship had rested for approximately 600 years in the Øresund, a strait separating Denmark and Sweden. The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde announced the discovery in late December, highlighting its importance in medieval maritime history.
During routine seabed surveys for the construction of the Lynetteholm development, divers uncovered the cog, a type of medieval cargo ship. The Viking Ship Museum noted that from the very first dive, the archaeologists sensed they had found something extraordinary. As they excavated centuries of sand and silt, the outline of the vessel emerged, revealing not just any wreck, but the largest cog ever discovered. This ship represents one of the most advanced vessel types of its time and played a crucial role in medieval trade.
Constructed in 1410, Svælget 2 measures approximately 28 meters (92 feet) in length, 9 meters (30 feet) in width, and stands 6 meters (20 feet) high, with an estimated cargo capacity of around 330 tons. Researchers dated the ship using tree-ring analysis, indicating it was built from timber sourced from Pomerania, present-day Poland, and the Netherlands. The museum emphasized that this cog is the largest example of its type ever discovered globally.
The significance of the cog lies in its efficiency, allowing it to be operated by a relatively small crew even when heavily loaded. Otto Uldum, the excavation leader and maritime archaeologist, described the cog as “the super ship of the Middle Ages,” stating it transformed trade patterns by enabling the shipment of everyday commodities across vast distances, beyond the luxury goods typically traded in earlier times.
Remarkably well-preserved beneath the sand, the ship still retains its rigging, the system of ropes and cables supporting its mast. Divers also recovered several personal items, including dishes, shoes, combs, and rosary beads, which provide valuable insights into the daily lives of the sailors. Among the discoveries was the ship’s brick-built galley, where the crew prepared meals over an open hearth, a rare luxury for seafarers of that era.
Although no cargo has been found, archaeologists speculate that it may have carried barrels of salt, bundles of cloth, and timber. The museum firmly states that Svælget 2 was a merchant vessel, with no indications of military use found thus far. Uldum remarked on the uncertainty surrounding how common large cogs were in Northern Europe during that period.
He noted, “There is a marked tendency that cogs were built increasingly larger through the use of this technology, from 1200 to 1400. Given the rarity of cogs dated this late, we think that most cogs entering the Baltic from the North Sea were around 25 meters (82 feet) long, and that Svælget 2 marks an upper limit.”
Uldum expressed particular astonishment at the recovery of the ship’s stern castle, providing the first archaeological evidence that such structures, often depicted in medieval illustrations, actually existed. The preservation of the cog is considered “very rare,” with similar finds typically excavated in sheltered, reclaimed seabed areas rather than open waters. “To find a cog lost at sea in this state of preservation is very rare,” Uldum explained, adding that the ship’s loss occurred while it was underway on the high seas, placing it among only a few other wrecks of its kind.
As further analysis continues, researchers hope to glean insights into the diet of the crew by examining the artifacts recovered, including mammal and fish bones. The presence of combs, shoes, and cooking materials suggests that the sailors aboard Svælget 2 lived in relative comfort, with the ship being well-equipped for life at sea.
