Tracing Trade Routes: Examining the Cargo of the 15th-Century Skaftö Wreck

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The Skaftö wreck of c.1440, situated north of Gothenburg, Sweden, was investigated between the years 2005 and 2009. Investigations revealed a variety of cargoes, such as copper and speiss ingots, barrels with lime and tar, bricks and roof tiles, and oak timber in the form of planks and boards. In order to identify the different cargo types found on the wreck, and, possibly, establish their geographical origin, a variety of analytical methods have been utilized. The present study accounts for the archaeological investigations of the cargo and for the analyses that have been conducted to date. Results are compared to and discussed in relation to other contemporaneous source material, both historical and archaeological. Based on this examination, it is concluded that the vessel was heading from the southeastern corner of the Baltic Sea, most likely Danzig (Gdańsk), aiming for the Western European market, possibly Bruges.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Nautical Archaeology
Volume51
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)112-144
ISSN1057-2414
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Nautical Archaeology Society.

    Research areas

  • bulk goods, copper Reiβscheiben, Late Middle Ages, Northern Europe, timber trade, Trade routes

ID: 322948823