A team of underwater explorers has made an extraordinary discovery at the bottom of the Baltic Sea: a 19th-century shipwreck in excellent condition, loaded with unexpected treasures. The finding was made by the Baltictech group during a recent expedition to the waters of southern Sweden, and the discovery has sparked great interest among historians and diving enthusiasts.

During the expedition, the Baltictech team used sonar to identify several submerged objects that appeared to be shipwrecks. One of these objects, which initially seemed to be a simple fishing boat, caught the attention of divers Marek Cacaj and Pawel Truszynski. Although they had already completed a dive that day, they showed great determination to explore the mysterious object.

The dive, which was planned as a brief exploration, extended for almost two hours. When they finally surfaced, they brought news of an extraordinary discovery.

A wrect with bottles of water, wine and champagne found in Sweden
A wrect with bottles of water, wine and champagne found in Sweden. Credit: Tomasz Stachura

The team encountered a 19th-century sailing ship in very good condition, loaded with an impressive number of bottles of champagne, wine, mineral water, and porcelain. The abundance of these items was so remarkable that it was initially difficult for the team to estimate the exact quantity.

However, they were able to confirm that there were at least 100 bottles of champagne and numerous baskets with clay bottles containing mineral water.

Among all the objects found, it was the bottles of mineral water that aroused the most curiosity. Approximately 100 sealed bottles of Selters water, a famous German producer of high-quality mineral water, were recovered. This type of water, in the 19th century, was considered a luxury item and was served at royal tables. Due to its high value, shipments of mineral water were often escorted by the police.

Detail of some of the bottles found
Detail of some of the bottles found. Credit: Tomasz Stachura

The shape of the bottles’ seals, along with the help of historians, allowed the team to date the shipment between 1850 and 1867. Interestingly, the ceramics factory where the water was bottled still exists, and the Baltictech team is in contact with them to obtain more information about this valuable cargo.

The shipwreck is located several miles south of Sweden, outside Poland’s territorial and economic waters. To ensure that the wreck is studied and preserved properly, Baltictech is collaborating with the MARIS Foundation, Södertörn University, and the renowned Professor Johan Rönnby, who leads underwater research in Sweden. This collaboration ensures that the exploration of the wreck is conducted following the best archaeological and scientific practices.

Baltictech plans to share more details about this exciting discovery at the Baltictech Conference 2024. This presentation is expected to provide deeper insight into the wreck and the treasures it holds. Additionally, the team intends to conduct future expeditions to the site to explore the wreck in greater detail and possibly uncover more about its history and the fate of its crew.

SOURCES

BalticTech

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