Witte Swaen from 1636. The Discovery and Archaeological Survey of an Intact Fluit in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
: Eriksson, Niklas; Flinkman, Juha; Koivikko, Minna; Lempiäinen-Avci, Mia; Manders, Martijn; Näsänen, Liisa; Jouni Polkko, Badewanne; Reinders, Jirsi; Stockdale, Edd; Treffner, Ivar
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
: ABINGDON
: 2024
: International Journal of Nautical Archaeology
: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
: INT J NAUT ARCHAEOL
: 2413068
: 22
: 1057-2414
: 1095-9270
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10572414.2024.2413068
: https://doi.org/10.1080/10572414.2024.2413068
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/477394392
In 2020, the diving group Badewanne discovered an exceptionally well-preserved wreck in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. Researchers and divers from several different institutions collaborated to survey the wreck with the ambition of gathering as much archaeological information with as little impact on the wreck as possible. This paper summarizes the current state of research and argues that the wreck is the remains of a merchant fluit loaded with grain. Archival research has identified the ship as Witte Swaen, built in 1636 and sunk in 1638. Besides highlighting the fate of this particular fluit, the survey has revealed the characteristic hull shape as well as the sculptural decorations, which diverge from other later archaeologically surveyed fluits in the Baltic.
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Former project leader of the Sound Toll Registers Online Jan Willem Veluwenkamp is acknowledged for his elucidation on the matter of completeness of the Sount Toll Registers and possible missing registrations and Menno Leenstra for his explanation on the calculation of lasts. The authors especially would like to thank Hanna Hemila, Beata Harju from Handle Productions, Annemiek van der Hell from Windmill Film and Xavier Picard for a good and creative cooperation on the survey, research and documentary filming. The research has been supported by the Antero and Merja Parma Foundation, Kone Foundation, Samenwerkende Maritieme Fondsen, Spliethoff Foundation, whereas Swedish Television SVT and Creative Europe has supported the filming.
