Marine archaeologists have recovered a collection of well-preserved artefacts from two Swedish shipwrecks that sank in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Rügen during the winter of 1714–1715.
The vessels, the frigate Postillion and the armed transport ship Cecilie, were lost during the Great Northern War (1700–1721), when Sweden fought a coalition led by Russia, Denmark-Norway and Saxony-Poland-Lithuania for supremacy in the Baltic region.
Archaeologists believe both ships ran aground during severe winter weather before sinking with much of their cargo still on board. No major salvage was done in the wake of the wrecks being lost and their contents remained largely undisturbed beneath the Baltic Sea for more than 300 years.
The wreck of the Postillion was first found in 2016 during the Nord Stream 2 pipeline surveys, and the remains of the Cecilie were found near the Baltic coast. Recent research by the Swedish National Heritage Board and Stockholm’s Vrak – Museum of Wrecks has unearthed many other artefacts about Swedish naval life during the early eighteenth century.
Among the items recovered are a ship’s bell and a bronze cannon barrel that are currently being studied by archaeologists in Schwerin. Researchers believe the cannon may have been captured during the Thirty Years’ War, so it was already around eight decades old when the ship was lost.
The assemblage also includes weapons, equipment and everyday items that offer a rare glimpse into the provisioning of Swedish naval vessels and the daily lives of their crews during the Great Northern War.
The Baltic Sea’s cold, low-salinity waters are renowned for preserving organic materials and shipwrecks, allowing archaeologists to recover artefacts in an exceptional state of preservation. The absence of extensive salvage operations has further contributed to the integrity of both wreck sites.
Researchers hope continued investigation of the two vessels will improve understanding of Swedish naval operations during the final years of the Great Northern War, while providing new evidence for maritime life in the Baltic during the early eighteenth century.
Header Image Credit : Philip Dulian
Sources : Berliner Morgenpost
