Maritime archaeologists have just pulled a 600-year-old giant from the seabed: the biggest medieval cargo ship ever discovered. Named Svaelget 2, this 92-foot monster could haul 300 tons of goods and changes everything we thought we knew about trade in the Middle Ages.
The wreck was found perfectly preserved under thick sand in the Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden, in a spot where ships normally get smashed to pieces by waves and currents. For the first time ever, archaeologists have a complete cog with its rigging still in place.
A True Monster of the Hanseatic Era
Svaelget 2 stretches 92 feet long, 30 feet wide, and stood 20 feet high above the waterline when she sailed around 1410. That makes her larger than any other known cog, including the famous Bremen Cog displayed in Germany.
This single discovery instantly rewrites the record books for medieval shipbuilding.
The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, leading the excavation, calls it “a milestone find.” Project leader Otto Uldum says the size proves merchants were moving far bigger cargoes than historians previously believed possible.
Built by Masters, Loaded with Secrets
Tree-ring dating reveals a fascinating story of international trade even before the ship ever left the shipyard.
The massive oak planks came from forests in Pomerania (modern Poland and Germany). The curved ribs were cut from Dutch trees. That means timber was already being shipped hundreds of miles just to build these giants in the Netherlands, where the best shipwrights worked.
Uldum explains: “The Dutch had the know-how to build ships this huge. They needed the strongest Pomeranian oak to do it.”
Why Preservation This Perfect Is Almost Impossible
Most coastal wrecks rot away or get crushed within decades. Yet Svaelget 2 lay under a protective blanket of sand at just 43 feet depth, completely shielded from oxygen and waves.
Divers found ropes, blocks, even parts of the rigging still attached. For the first time, researchers can study exactly how these giant cogs were sailed with surprisingly small crews.
The Engine of Medieval Global Trade
Cogs like Svaelget 2 were the container ships of their day. They carried salt, grain, wool, timber, wine, and iron across the North Sea and Baltic.
One ship this size could feed an entire town for months or supply enough timber to build hundreds of houses.
These vessels helped the Hanseatic League dominate trade from London to Novgorod. Finding one this large proves the scale of commerce was far greater and more organized than anyone realized.
Here are the stunning numbers that put Svaelget 2 in perspective:
- Length: 92 feet (28 meters)
- Beam: 30 feet (9 meters)
- Cargo capacity: 300 tons
- Built: circa 1410 in the Netherlands
- Crew: likely under 20 men even when fully loaded
The previous record holder, the Bremen Cog, was nearly 20 percent smaller.
What Happens Next
The wreck is too fragile to raise. Instead, archaeologists are recording every timber in 3D before reburying the ship under sand for protection.
Selected pieces, including parts of the rigging never seen before, will go on display at the Viking Ship Museum in 2027.
This discovery doesn’t just add one ship to the history books. It proves medieval merchants were running a sophisticated global supply chain centuries earlier than most textbooks claim.
A 600-year-old trading giant has finally surfaced, and she’s bigger, smarter, and more impressive than anyone ever imagined.
What do you think this means for our understanding of the Middle Ages? Drop your thoughts below and share this story with #Svaelget2 if you’re as blown away as we are.
