The wreck was discovered by divers in the 1960s, but has only been thoroughly investigated in recent years.
Researchers have discovered a “treasure” chest in the wreck of the Gribshunden, a royal ship that sank off the Swedish coast 500 years ago. The reason for well-preserved spices: saffron, ginger and black peppercorns.
Gribshunden was the flagship of King Hans of Denmark and Norway. In 1495 it caught fire while anchored off Ronby, while the monarch had disembarked to meet local officials.
The wreck was discovered by divers in the 1960s, but has only been thoroughly investigated in recent years. Previous dives had brought up impressive exhibits. But the expedition of Brendan Foley, an archaeologist/researcher from the University of Lund, found something particularly unusual at the wreck site: well-preserved spices.
“They could not have been so well preserved anywhere else,” Foley argues, explaining the special conditions of the Baltic Sea (low salinity, low oxygen levels and temperature).
Spices at that time were luxury items, since only the wealthy could obtain them from markets outside of Europe.
“It is the first time that saffron is included in archaeological findings. So it’s something unique and very special,” says researcher Mikael Larsson from Lund University.
Source :Skai
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