Researchers have discovered a massive medieval shipwreck in a strait off the coast of Denmark, shedding new light on Europe’s maritime and economic development during the Middle Ages.
The vessel, a cog, measures about 92 feet long and 30 feet wide, making it the largest example of its kind found to date. Cogs ranked among the most advanced trading ships of the medieval period and played a central role in European commerce.
According to the Viking Ship Museum, the ship lies around 43 feet below the surface near Copenhagen. Archaeologists located it in the Øresund, the busy waterway separating Denmark and Sweden.
Experts date the ship to the 14th or 15th century. During that era, cogs could carry hundreds of tons of cargo at relatively low cost, which helped fuel trade and urban growth across northern Europe.
🛥️ Hallan en Dinamarca el mayor barco mercante medieval del mundo, intacto tras 600 años
📌 El superbarco, localizado a 13 metros de profundidad, revoluciona el conocimiento sobre la navegación y el comercio en la Edad Media https://t.co/6H4TfdLnK9
— Faro de Vigo (@Farodevigo) January 20, 2026Excavation leader Otto Uldum described the discovery as a landmark moment for the field. He said the ship offers rare insight into how the largest trading vessels of the Middle Ages were built and how crews lived and worked on board.
Researchers have named the ship Svælget 2. The team carefully removed centuries-old sand and silt to reveal the vessel’s outline. Much of the ship remains well preserved because sediment protected its starboard side underwater.
Archaeologists have not yet located the ship’s cargo. Further study may reveal what goods it once carried through one of medieval Europe’s most important trade routes.
