A deep-sea archaeological mission off the coast of Norway has located the remarkably intact wreck of a 16th-century merchant vessel associated with the Hanseatic League. Resting at a depth of 150 meters, the ship's hull remains structurally sound, preserved by the near-freezing, anoxic environment of the North Sea floor which prevents the growth of wood-boring organisms.
The vessel's hold is filled with a cargo of raw Baltic oak and pine timber, intended for shipyards in Western Europe. This find provides unprecedented data on the naval architecture of the transition period between medieval cogs and early modern galleons, as well as the commercial logistics of the Northern European timber trade during the height of Hanseatic influence.