An extraordinary archaeological discovery reveals Sweden’s maritime past—one ship at a time: During construction of the Varberg Tunnel, a major railway project on the west coast, crews uncovered six remarkably preserved shipwrecks—some dating back nearly 700 years. The findings, described by archaeology consultant group Arkeologerna, span a wide timeline ranging from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, and offer a rare window into centuries of Scandinavian maritime life.
A Forgotten Harbour Beneath the City
The discoveries were made close to central Varberg, in an area that today sits well inland, but once formed the medieval shoreline and hosted harbour defences for a bustling maritime zone.
Of the six wrecks:
Four date to the Middle or Late Middle Ages
One is from the 17th century
One could not be precisely dated
The Jewel: A 1530s Oak Sailing Ship
Among the six finds, Wreck 2 stands out as the most significant. Dated to the 1530s, it was also the most intact, preserving continuous hull structures unusually well for its age. Built of oak from western Sweden and using clinker construction—where hull planks overlap—this vessel also featured a berghult, a protective external strip used to support the hull during docking and sometimes to strengthen the superstructure: traces of burning on the berghult suggest that the ship may have been intentionally set on fire before sinking.
A 17th-Century Cousin
Wreck 5, dating from the 1600s, shares several traits with Wreck 2: oak construction, clinker-planked hull, and likely a similar sailing range: Archaeologists believe both vessels once sailed the waters between Varberg, Ny Varberg, and across the Baltic Sea.
A Rare Caravel-Style Vessel
Wreck 6 is unique in the group. Built in the caravel style, it features flat, edge-to-edge planks attached directly to the frame rather than overlapping—a construction technique more common in Atlantic and Dutch traditions. It is also the only wreck among the six with a preserved keel. The rabbeted (grooved) design strongly suggests influence from Dutch shipbuilding.
Two Medieval Traders
Wrecks 3 and 4, both 14th-century, are flat-bottomed cargo vessels indicative of the practical ships that powered medieval Scandinavian trade networks. These ships would have been ideal for navigating shallow harbours and river mouths: Their analysis may reveal much about trade flows between regional hubs during the Middle Ages.
A Coastline Full of Hidden History
Large infrastructure works along Sweden’s west coast increasingly uncover ancient wrecks—reminders that today’s land was once medieval coastline or open sea: Many modern city centres in the region sit atop former harbours. The Varberg findings are being examined in collaboration with the Bohuslän Museum, Visual Archaeology, and Cultural Environment Halland. The six shipwrecks of Varberg are not just archaeological curiosities—they are time capsules, each carrying fragments of Sweden’s maritime story through the centuries.
Read more on Arkeologerna.com, Popularmechanics.com
