The team was alerted to the presence of the wreck by a hull rib protruding from a muddy bottom in the middle of Lake Vanern, one of a series of lakes in Sweden’s Gotha Canal network, and the country’s largest inland water.
An initial survey has determined that the wreck is a clinker-built ship some 20m long. Its keelson lies about a metre beneath the lake bed. A sample of the rib wood is being tested to determine the wreck’s age.
Also recovered were a sword, spear and shield. An archaeologist from Vanern Museum has said that the sword in particular resembles weaponry found at established Viking sites, leading experts to believe that the wreck is probably that of a Viking ship, even before the dating test results are in.
If shown to be from the Viking period, the wreck would be Sweden’s first underwater Viking find, to add to various Viking discoveries made on land.
Given the ship’s position, in the midst of a group of islands in the Luro archipelago, it would most probably have been used for a burial, being sent out from shore to be sunk while containing the body of the deceased.
While exploring the area the divers, a 50-strong team from the Swedish Coastguard, also found the wrecks of six other vessels - three of which lie tangled together - all within 100m of the supposed Viking wreck. Identities remain unknown.
The Coastguard team has been working with Vanern Museum to locate and survey wrecks spread over Lake Vanern’s 2200sq mile area.
Archive | 
Win a Luxfer pony cylinder
