Leta reports that a shipwreck was found in the Baltic Sea between Gotland and Åland, which was probably sailed by King Valdemar Aterdag of Denmark in the 14th century. The wreck was found with the help of a sonar. According to experts, it could be the oldest surviving in the world shipwreck. "I had all the feathers on my scalp when I first saw the pictures," shipwreck expert Erik Bjurström told the local Barometern newspaper.
According to experts, the ship was used between the 12th and 14th centuries. Given its age and location, historians do not rule out the possibility that it may have been the legendary ship with which King Valdemar Aterdag of Denmark went home after the conquest of Visby in 1361.
Wanting to limit the strength of the Hanseatic League in the region, King Valdemar IV of Denmark decided to attack the Baltic Sea island of Gotland. According to legend, he hated all Gotlanders and especially Visby, where, as he heard, he sang ridiculous songs.
Conquering Visby, the King of Denmark presented the townspeople with three huge kegs of beer, demanding that they be filled with gold and silver for three days, otherwise his men would loot the city themselves. The barrels were filled on the same day before sunset, and the loot was stacked on Danish ships. One of the ships did not reach its destination either, and although many shipwreck specialists have been looking for it, so far it has not been found.
Although it is not yet known whether this is really Valdemārs Aterdags' ship, after studying the sonar images, Bjurström is almost certain that a small medieval sailing ship, 28 meters long and seven meters wide, was found.
Sunken ships in the Baltic Sea
Never before have sunken medieval sailing ships been found in this area of the Baltic Sea, although their use has been very widespread and the Baltic Sea has ideal conditions for preserving wrecks - its bottom is flat, it is not inhabited by so-called worms - snails that destroy wood like termites, and also the oxygen level in it is low enough for the wrecks to survive well.
Scientists plan to send remote-controlled submarines equipped with video cameras to the seabed in the coming days, which could collect and later provide more accurate data on the sunken ship.
"We don't think this is definitely a ship that carried three barrels of gold, silver and other valuables taken away from the Gotlanders," said diver Lundgren, an underwater diver. "It simply came to our notice then sunken ship, it's a sensation. "
