500 Year Old Shipwreck That Transitions from the Medieval to the Modern Period

[ArmyDaveNY]

There has been an interesting excavation of a 500 year old ship wreck off of the southern coast of Sweden. What makes this special is that it seems to be a transition between the end of the medieval period and the modern period. In addition to the ship itself, the contents are providing a treasure trove including some things never before found, such as four complete crossbows including their strings.

The article talks about how this ship shows the change from clinker built to carvel built, and its use of internal frame works, the history of the ship and the times it was built in, the contents, and at the end briefly talks about some what ifs had Scandinavia been united.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...=pocket-newtab

[JPA Cate]

Thanks for posting that. Super article.

Ann

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Thanks for posting that. Super article.

Ann

Hi Ann. Thanks! I also thought it was pretty interesting. People forget that there is a lot we don't know and I really like seeing these forgotten episodes in history. It will be interesting to see what new information comes out in the next hundred years!

I also enjoyed the what if part at the end of the article. It is an interesting intellectual endevour and would make a fun round table discussion amongst a bunch of historians and marine specialists.

Cheers,

Dave

[DMF Sailing]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

There has been an interesting excavation of a 500 year old ship wreck off of the southern coast of Sweden. What makes this special is that it seems to be a transition between the end of the medieval period and the modern period. In addition to the ship itself, the contents are providing a treasure trove including some things never before found, such as four complete crossbows including their strings.

The article talks about how this ship shows the change from clinker built to carvel built, and its use of internal frame works, the history of the ship and the times it was built in, the contents, and at the end briefly talks about some what ifs had Scandinavia been united.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...=pocket-newtab

This is fantastic. Thanks for posting!

[Don C L]

Yes, thanks for posting! I didn't realize how that change in ship construction changed the whole world!

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Yes, thanks for posting! I didn't realize how that change in ship construction changed the whole world!

You are very welcome. It was interesting to see the difference it made, and also how that construction technique spread around the world.

[redhead]

Somewhere there is a terrific documentary about this. I believe I saw it on either Prime Video or Curiosity Stream. I'll try to find it and name it.

Later: It's on PBS Nova, episode "The Ship That Changed the World" for those of you in the States.

[ArmyDaveNY]

Originally Posted by DMF Sailing

This is fantastic. Thanks for posting!

You are very welcome!

[Ifitsworthdoing]

Grateful for the link - a fascinating article, including the what-if contemplation at the end. Reminds me of the White Ship disaster of 1120 that did for King Henry I's sole male heir and a large chunk of England's ruling Norman aristocracy, directly leading to The Anarchy (civil war) of 1135-54. That particular - and easily avoidable - naval tragedy is vividly recounted in Lord Spencer's account published earlier this year if anyone is interested.

[kryg]

Great Article, thanks for sharing, I really was impressed with the ships' figurehead, a sea monster swallowing a screaming man. I guess this also was the new transition into psychological warfare- or a wonderful dark sense of humour. That is why they invented TV. People are complex beings even today. Now it is nuclear weapons instead of sea monsters.

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

There has been an interesting excavation of a 500 year old ship wreck off of the southern coast of Sweden. What makes this special is that it seems to be a transition between the end of the medieval period and the modern period. In addition to the ship itself, the contents are providing a treasure trove including some things never before found, such as four complete crossbows including their strings.

The article talks about how this ship shows the change from clinker built to carvel built, and its use of internal frame works, the history of the ship and the times it was built in, the contents, and at the end briefly talks about some what ifs had Scandinavia been united.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...=pocket-newtab