Travel through centuries – Excavating Stockholm
The city of Stockholm, Sweden, is a rather exotic part of the world. No wonder its roots as a city began in 1252. A lot has been going on over the centuries, and as the town grew, treasures and stories of the past have been buried and unburied.
The City Council must tread carefully every time a major renovation project is undertaken, and it has to be looked over by an archaeologist before proceeding. As a result, Stockholm has a well-documented, rich history, and new information is continuously added. When the eastern quayside of “Strömkajen” close to the noble Grand Hotel needed a long renovation, the Maritime Museums' marine archaeologists were called in.
Sown wreck
From the beginning, the excavation revealed an extraordinary find, a wreck sewn together, proving how vital these digs are. As they carefully worked through layer after layer, new insights into life in Stockholm through the centuries were revealed. It’s a wild time travel, taking us through the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.
In late December, we were called to a Press Meeting in Stockholm. They wanted to show us parts of two wrecks that date back to when a Naval Shipyard of quite some importance located on this spot was most active, from 1560 and a hundred years on.
...seriously, never in my life have I found so may well preserved finds!
—Jim Hansson, Curator and Project manager.
The newly found Svärdet was built here, as was the world-renowned VASA, the ship that went down during its maiden voyage and later, during the 20th century, was salvaged and made into a Museum.
It is possible that the wrecks were used as service vessels within the shipyard. This is very exciting news for Project Manager Jim Hansson, curator at the Maritime Museums.
Jim Hansson sees a rewarding exploration ahead, but he feels the pressure. The City is breathing down his neck, eager to continue the renovation process. At the same time, excavation is getting close to the spot they believe the rest of the wrecks are.
What was the purpose?
The mystery continues, and the subsequent press meeting might reveal the answer. What was the purpose of these boats? Were they service vessels, or were they used for something different? We might give you the answer in the future! by an archaeologist before proceeding. As a result, Stockholm has a well-documented, rich history, and new information is continuously added.
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