Crews working on the Varberg Tunnel railway project in Sweden recently uncovered six shipwrecks near the historic city, revealing a remarkable maritime history. These wrecks, ranging from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, exemplify multiple ship designs and construction styles, offering valuable insights for further study.
Construction on the Varberg Tunnel, part of a modern railway initiative, led to this unexpected bounty of historical underwater finds. The six shipwrecks represent maritime remnants from what was once a bustling harbor. According to a translated report from archaeology consultant group Arkeologerna, four of the wrecks date back to the Middle Ages (or Late Middle Ages), one to the 17th century, and one remains undated.
Elisabet Schager, Arkeologerna’s project manager, highlighted wrecks Nos. 2, 5, and 6 as especially intriguing. Discovered in the central part of Varberg — once the original shoreline and location of harbor defenses — Wreck 2 is the most well-preserved and the only one featuring a continuous structure.
Wreck 2 consists of the remains of an oak sailing ship built during the latter half of the 1530s. Crafted using timber from West Sweden, this clinker-built vessel—where timber edges overlap—still includes two hull sections from the ship’s starboard side, along with scattered timbers. The design also features a berghult, or rock beam, which is a protective strip on the hull’s exterior. Schager described this element as “exciting,” as it serves as a reinforcing support to protect the hull during docking and can also brace the superstructure. The ship was either fully or partially decked.
In a fascinating twist, the team discovered traces of fire damage on the protective strip of Wreck 2, suggesting the ship may have been intentionally burned before it sank.
Wreck 5, dating from the 17th century, shares many characteristics with Wreck 2, including the use of local oak and a clinker-plank design. Experts believe both ships likely sailed the waters near the medieval cities of Varberg and Ny Varberg, with Wreck 5 probably having navigated much of the Baltic Sea.
Wreck 6, however, stands apart from the others. It is the only caravel-style ship found among the six wrecks. Unlike the clinker design, caravel planks are laid edge to edge and attached directly to the frame, creating a smooth finish. Also made of oak, Wreck 6 is unique for its preserved rabbeted (grooved) keel, which shows traces of Dutch shipbuilding tradition. Unfortunately, the timber could not be precisely dated.
Wrecks 3 and 4, both from the 14th century, were flat-bottomed ships typical of medieval trade vessels. Archaeological teams aim to analyze these further to gain deeper insights into maritime life during the Middle Ages, including regional trade networks.
As more large infrastructure projects take place along Sweden’s West Coast, Schager noted an increase in findings of shipwrecks in areas that were once harbors or submerged underwater during the Middle Ages and early modern periods — but are now part of city centers.
The current archaeological work is being conducted in collaboration with Bohuslän Museum, Visual Archaeology, and Cultural Environment Halland.
“It will be very interesting,” Schager said. “We will have a lot of exciting things to tell in the future.”
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a69445761/sweden-six-shipwrecks-found/