History
On March 31, 2022, workers digging foundations at Lootsi Street 8, near Tallinn’s old harbor, hit a wooden structure about 1.5 meters below the surface. Archaeological monitoring stopped the work. What emerged from the wet sand was not a small fragment of harbor debris, but the remains of a large 14th-century merchant ship.
The ship, now known as the 'Lootsi 8 cog', is approximately 24.5 meters long and 8.6 meters wide. Researchers describe it as one of the best-preserved medieval ships found in Europe. It was so large and fragile that specialists had to lift it in four large sections and transport it to the Estonian Maritime Museum.
The site where the ship was found is now part of urban Tallinn. In the Middle Ages, however, the area lay on the shallow coast, near the delta of the Harjapea River.
Date
The new scientific study gives the ship a precise internal clock. Researchers analyzed 97 wood samples from the wreck, including hull planks, frames, beams, reinforcing planks and other structural elements. Of these, 87 were successfully dated through dendrochronology, the study of tree rings.
The results show that the main structure was built from oak trees felled in the winters of 1370–71 and 1371–72. Other parts, including planks from a possible galley or pantry-related structure, came from trees felled in winter 1373–74.
Dry compass from the wrecksite
Remarkable find
A remarkable find was a so-called 'dry compass' discovered in the wreck. A dry compass is a traditional magnetic compass in which the needle and compass rose rotate freely on a pin, without fluid damping. It is often enclosed in a box with a glass plate.
A dry compass from the 14th century is not an everyday find. A compass on board testifies to the increasing importance of navigation instruments in medieval seafaring.
Hanseatic League
The 14th century was the period of the Hanseatic cities. Hanseatic cities are medieval cities (12th-16th centuries) that were part of the Hanseatic League, a trade alliance in Northern Europe. The Hanseatic cities collaborated to protect their trade, secure routes, and promote economic prosperity.
Cog
The cog was the workhorse during the period of the Hanseatic cities. A cog was a robust cargo ship (12th-15th centuries) with a flat bottom (carvel-built flat), a single mast, and a large square sail. The hull planks were clinker-built.
They were fastened with long nails that were bent and hammered back for extra strength. The seams were sealed (caulked) with moss caulking and secured with cinders.
Description
References
- Arkeo news.
One of Europe’s Best-Preserved Medieval Ships Was Found Beneath a City, With Its 600-Year-Old Compass. - Vlierman, K. (2021).
COGGHEN, KLEENE COGGHEN ENDE SCHUTEN.
SPA uitgevers, Zwolle.