The Norwegian Ministry of National Heritage has announced the discovery of an 18th-century ship in the Skagerrak Strait with a remarkable cargo. Ongoing investigations have already revealed a large collection of Chinese porcelain and a number of other intriguing artefacts.
“I had to rub my eyes”
The wreck was discovered at a depth of 600 metres in the Skagerrak Strait, which runs between the North Jutlandic Island of Denmark, the east coast of Norway and the west coast of Sweden, and connects the North Sea and the Kattegat Sea.
Preliminary indications suggest the ship was sunk sometime around the middle of the 18th century. The most spectacular part of the cargo is a large collection of porcelain that is thought to be from China – the first discovery of this kind ever made in Northern Europe.
The ship was initially found by Espen Saastad, owner of the Norwegian watch store, Saastad Ur. Fortunately, the watchmaker immediately notified the authorities. The Norwegian Maritime Museum is now leading the investigations into the contents of the shipwreck.
The project team paid tribute to Espen Saastad for contacting the museum so quickly, particularly given the potential historic significance of the find. “I had to rub my eyes when I realised the extent of this find,” commented National Antiquities Commissioner Hanna Geiran in a recent press release. “It’s almost unbelievable.”
Of unknown origin
In the period when the ship sank, Norway was part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, a union that lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. Throughout this time, the kingdom maintained a modest yet significant trading network that at its height spanned the continents of Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
At this point in time, it is unclear exactly why the ship was travelling through the Skagerrak Strait, and why it was apparently carrying goods from China. The project team believe some chandeliers found in the wreck are of either German or English design, but the origin of the ship and its final destination are still unknown.
Nevertheless, it is hoped that continued archeological work and historical study will help us to understand more about the wreck, and how it might relate to Norway. “Shipping has been a central nerve in Norwegian culture since time immemorial,” commented Lubna Jaffery, the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality. “This discovery could help to shed light on new aspects of our coastal culture.
Something unique
The divers have already revealed a number of other artefacts, including glassware, textiles, grains and boxes that appear to contain tea, herbs, and medicines. You can view a wider selection of images from the wreck on our Patreon page, here (free to access).
The investigations are ongoing, and it is hoped that the ship will continue to reveal new artefacts. In the meantime, conservation and research work is already underway for objects already retrieved from the wreck.
There are also plans for the ship’s cargo to be displayed at Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo – part of the nationwide Norwegian Folk Museum Foundation. Indeed, some items will be exhibited as early as this month so that the general public can see them before they are sent for further analysis.
“This ushers in a new era for Norwegian archaeology,” commented Nina Refseth, Director of the Norwegian Folk Museum Foundation. “Shipwrecks found on the coast are often destroyed or looted. Now that we are studying a find in the open sea and at this depth, we have the pleasure of looking into a nearly untouched time capsule. The Porcelain Wreck provides us with a rare opportunity to get up close to history.”
