Archeologists in Estonia made an exciting discovery this year while excavating an old shipwreck site near the historic port of Tallinn. In 2022, well-preserved remains of a medieval ship were found buried on Lootsi Street, not far from the old city walls.
The excavation was led by Muinasprojekt OÜ, an Estonian archaeology company. Once uncovered, the large wooden ship pieces were carefully transported to the Estonian Maritime Museum for further study.
Researchers are now carefully cleaning and examining the ship remains. The first step involves removing sand and debris from the hull without damaging any artifacts. Experts are also monitoring humidity levels to slowly dry the wet wood and prevent mold growth.
Detailed measurements, photos, and samples are being taken to learn more about how the ship was constructed. Laboratory analysis of the samples will help date exactly when the ship was built.
Dendrochronology, the study of tree ring patterns, has already revealed that the wood used for the ship was cut down around 1360. So this discovery gives us a rare glimpse into shipbuilding during the late medieval period in Estonia.
As the excavation and cleaning continue, archaeologists have found some exciting artifacts buried in the ship, including tools, leather shoes, and weapons.
But the most surprising finds so far are remarkably well-preserved remains of two ship rats and what is believed to be the oldest dry compass ever discovered in Europe. The dry compass was invented around 1300 and contains a magnetized needle that floats freely inside a glass-covered box imprinted with a compass rose diagram.
Sailors would line up the compass with the ship’s keel so the rotating diagram always showed which direction the bow was pointing, even as the ship changed course.
This rare shipwreck discovery in Estonia’s capital city is providing historians with valuable clues about life at sea over 600 years ago. Future study may reveal even more secrets from this well-preserved piece of maritime history.
Norway's Earliest Ship Burial Emerges Before the Viking Age This summer, a small group of archaeologists and metal detector enthusiasts conducted a study on the large burial mound known as Herlaugshaugen, located on the island of Leka in the…
Archaeologists may have Found a Viking-Era Market in a Norwegian Farmhouse Klosterøy, a picturesque island in southwest Norway, boasts a treasure trove of cultural history. Among its notable landmarks is Norway's best-preserved medieval monastery, drawing visitors to explore its ancient allure.…
Those who enjoy the history of the Roman Empire are well acquainted with the story of Antinous, the young man of extraordinary beauty who deeply captivated Emperor Hadrian. Not only…
At midnight on June 11, 1940, Italy declared war on France. This was something that had been anticipated for some time, despite a certain level of German discontent (Hitler saw…
In the year 869 AD, the Great Heathen Army of Danish Viking Ivar the Boneless was conquering the English kingdom of East Anglia, an earthquake followed by a tsunami ravaged…
In the summer of 2019, the temperature rose a few degrees in Greenland, but it wasn’t solely due to climate change; rather, it was because of U.S. President Donald Trump’s…
Letting go of the old to enter the new year is a metaphorical custom that is quite rooted in some corners of Italy, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. In the transalpine…
The last human sacrifices carried out in Rome—beyond considering the ludi gladiatorii as an acceptable adaptation of the concept—took place in 216 BC. It was during a colossal catastrophe that…
A recently published study reveals the existence of ancient fishing techniques at the Magdalenian site of Gönnersdorf, Germany, dating back approximately 15,800 years. This discovery resulted from a re-evaluation of…
Since May 2024, the State Office for Monument Conservation and Archaeology (LDA) of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, has been conducting archaeological excavations at the Hermes Fulfilment GmbH distribution center site in Haldensleben.…
The influence of Teotihuacán on Maya civilization during the Early Classic period (150-600 AD) has been widely debated, particularly concerning its role in the rise of the ajawtaak or Maya…
Researchers from the University of Bologna have unveiled how ancient cylinder seals played a key role in the development of writing in ancient Mesopotamia, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding…
A recent archaeological discovery in the small Belgian town of Pommerœul, near the French border, revealed an unusual mix of human remains from different periods within a single tomb. Using…
Climate change has played a crucial role in shaping societies throughout history. Recently, a study led by Chinese researchers has shown how these climatic changes may have significantly influenced the…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.