Marine archaeologists using advanced sonar mapping have identified the remains of a 12th-century maritime trading jetty submerged off the coast of Gotland, Sweden. The structure, composed of massive oak piles and stone infill, once served as a primary hub for merchant fleets traversing the Baltic Sea during the transition from the Viking Age to the Hanseatic period.
Beside the jetty, divers located several stone ballast mounds and discarded ceramic storage jars from across Northern Europe and the Byzantine Empire. The presence of these artifacts suggests the site was a major transshipment point for luxury goods, providing new insights into the maritime infrastructure that supported early medieval trade networks.