Using Advanced Technology, A Team Of Researchers In Norway Gleaned New Information About A 600-Year-Old Medieval Shipwreck
In Norway, a medieval shipwreck lies in a shallow body of water less than three feet deep. Recently, maritime archaeologists conducted a new geophysical survey of the site, hoping to gain more information about the wreck.
The 600-year-old vessel is located near the village of Avaldsnes on the island of Karmøy. It was found decades ago and has been studied since its discovery.
However, a team of researchers at the University of Stavanger and Stavanger Maritime Museum took a special approach to investigating the ship with the help of new technology.
According to a study from the Journal of Maritime Archaeology, the team used a device known as an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) to gather data about the ship and the area it inhabits. The ASV allowed access to areas that would be difficult to reach using other standard methods. The new data they collected helped them create a three-dimensional model of the vessel.
“This approach empowered accurate identification of the outline of the wooden hull and provided information about ship dimensions and maximum burial depth,” wrote the study’s authors.
They also explained that “this technique is a fast, cost-effective and, most importantly, non-destructive way to investigate and monitor archaeological structures and objects buried beneath the seabed.”
In addition to the structure of the ship, the ASV provided insights into the history of the region. Currently, Avaldsnes is a sleepy little village that is home to just a few thousand people. But during the early Bronze Age until the late Middle Ages, it was a center of bustling activity and maritime trade.
Throughout the medieval period, the coastal settlement contained a royal palace complex armed with defenses and a well-known port that was frequently used by the Hanseatic League, an organization founded by communities in Central and Northern Europe for the purpose of protecting and controlling trade in the surrounding region.
The organization established common trade tariffs and taxes. If anyone wanted to trade with the towns in the league, they had to agree with the league’s terms.
OE993 – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The confederation shaped the trade, economy, and politics in northern Europe for more than 400 years, dominating commercial activity from the 13th to the 15th centuries.
The Avaldsnes ship had most likely been traveling within the intricate network of trade when it sank. It is described as a medium-sized merchant ship that was built by highly skilled individuals.
A previous analysis of the wood revealed that the vessel was made in 1395 CE in an area now known as Poland. Somewhere between 1399 and 1415 CE, the ship sank due to a fire that started onboard.
Additionally, archaeologists noted that some moss and animal hair had been stuffed between the ship’s wooden planks to act as a sealant.
There was also evidence of mats made out of twigs, which they believed were used to protect freight from nature’s elements.
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