Post by Imbannedeverywhere on Aug 12, 2015 4:46:58 GMT
A wooden figurehead of a sea monster with ears like a lion and a crocodile's jaw has been carefully lifted from the sea in southern Sweden by divers bringing up treasures from the wreck of a 15th-century Danish warship.
The ferocious-looking figurehead, intended to scare the enemy, came from the wreck of the Gribshunden, which is believed to have sunk in 1495 after it caught fire on its way from Copenhagen to Kalmar on Sweden's east coast.
Although the hull suffered extensive damage, the remaining bits of the ship make it one of the best-preserved wrecks of its kind, dating from roughly the same period as Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria.
The ferocious-looking figurehead, intended to scare the enemy, came from the wreck of the Gribshunden, which is believed to have sunk in 1495 after it caught fire on its way from Copenhagen to Kalmar on Sweden's east coast.
Although the hull suffered extensive damage, the remaining bits of the ship make it one of the best-preserved wrecks of its kind, dating from roughly the same period as Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria.
"The ship comes from a time just when Columbus was sailing across the ocean and Vasco da Gama also went to India," Blekinge Museum head Marcus Sandekjer said.
"This is the same period and we can learn very much about how the ships were made, how they were constructed, since there are no ships left from this time.
"It's unique in the world and I think there are going to be more excavations around here and we're going to find some more unique objects. But this ... today is just fantastic."
"This is the same period and we can learn very much about how the ships were made, how they were constructed, since there are no ships left from this time.
"It's unique in the world and I think there are going to be more excavations around here and we're going to find some more unique objects. But this ... today is just fantastic."
To be honest... I think the guy around the corner's driftwood sculptures are far more impressive.... but good find none the less
