400-year-old shipwreck discovered in Stockholm archipelago

Washington, August 7 (ANI): A team of divers has discovered a 400-Year-Old Shipwreck from the 17th century outside the Varmdo municipality, in the archipelago of Stockholm in Sweden.

"We were actually searching for a cargo ship that had sank in the 1940s, but then we found this instead," said Markus Harde, one of the wreck divers.

According to a report in The Epoch Times, the shipwreck is probably a Dutch trading ship from early 17th century.

Marcus Harde discovered the wreck together with Anders Backstrom and Jonas Rydin in May.

The divers saw a lion figurine on the rudder and nicknamed it "The Lion Wreck."

The ship, with three masts, seems to be well kept, and has been under 141 feet (43 meters) of water for 400 years.

The divers contacted Johan Rannby, a researcher in marine ecology, at Sodertorns University in Stockholm.

"Why this discovery is exciting is because it is rather old. I have not as yet dived to see it, but by looking at the pictures and films, I am quite convinced it is from the 17th century," said Johan Ronnby.

After doing research the scientists stated that the Ghost Wreck was a Dutch trading ship from the beginning of 17th century, and was probably used for trade between Amsterdam and Stockholm.

The ship was specially constructed as a cargo ship that sailed all over the world.

It's assumed that both ships were built in Dutch shipbuilding yards, and the decorations expressed the tradesman's pride and wealth.

According to Johan Ronnby, there is no place in the world that wins over the Baltic Sea when it comes to ship archaeology.

"This does not exist anywhere else. Both of the ships are very unique and scientifically it is going to be a lot of fun to see what details will differentiate them," he said. (ANI)