Archaeologists Just Stumbled Upon a 225-Year-Old Warship and Human Remains

Two hundred and twenty-five years after it sank off the coast of Denmark during a heated military campaign, archaeologists with the Danish Viking Museum have discovered the wreck of the Dannebroge warship.

The Dannebroge sank in 1801 during the Battle of Copenhagen and has long remained a figment of history, depicted in myriad artworks and textbooks, but until now never seen by modern human eyes. Archaeologists discovered the wreck about 50 feet below the water’s surface, where visibility levels are extremely low, while they were scouting the site in Copenhagen Harbor for the construction of an artificial island.

“We have found Dannebroge and the remains of those who never made it ashore after the battle,” Otto Uldum, a maritime archaeologist at the Danish Viking Ship Museum, said in the news release. “The area is littered with cannonballs and bar shot. And yes, we have found two cannons,” Uldum added of the evidence so far accumulated. He also revealed that the ship’s measurements “correspond exactly” to historical drawings. “Although the battle is a central event in Danish history, no one, to my knowledge, has examined it archaeologically until now. That is actually quite remarkable,” Uldum said.

Artifacts and Human Remains Also Found at Wreck Site

Uldum’s team has so far found a wealth of artifacts linked to the Dannebroge’s long-missing crew, including glass bottles, shoes, pieces of clothing, clay pipes, and uniform patches. They’ve also found gruesome remains of one crew member. “We have found a lower jaw that is without doubt human, as well as several other bones, including ribs, which could very well be human,” Uldum explained. “We are far from finished sorting and analysing the material, but we are bringing everything up.”

The Dannebroge was the central figure in Denmark’s line of defense, and as such was the most sought-after target for the British. The Battle of Copenhagen ultimately injured 40 upon the Dannebroge and claimed the lives of 56 of the ship’s crew. During the battle, which lasted only a few hours, 255 British soldiers lost their lives, and more than 700 were injured. Losses for Denmark, however, were much more severe: 300 died in battle, and nearly 700 were treated for injuries. One hundred soldiers later succumbed to their wounds. You can visit the Viking Ship Museum for more information.