The Danish royal flagship gribshunden – Dendrochronology on a late medieval carvel sunk in the Baltic Sea

The Royal flagship Gribshunden carried the Danish King Hans on its way to city of Kalmar in Sweden when ship sank summer 1495. caught fire while anchored north Stora Ekö Island and seafloor, where it lies this day. wreck was rediscovered 1970s is remarkably well preserved. Since 2001, scientific investigations have been performed by various organizations. In total, 13 dendrochronological samples from different parts construction collected analyzed with standard methods respect age provenance. results show that all dated could felled during winter season 1482/83, although only one sample contains sapwood waney edge. highest correlations are obtained reference chronologies originate River Meuse drainage area, peaking around Namur Belgium. Most likely, constructed a shipyard close mouth southern Netherlands. It seems realized potential new type represented Gribshunden, but his shipwrights did not knowledge build such Denmark. Instead, he purchased abroad. This study highlights late medieval economic political connections throughout northern Europe.