A cargo of spices has been found on the Danish king’s ship that sank in the 15th century. article about it published on PLOS One.
In 1495, King Johann of Denmark anchored the ship Gribshunden off the coast of Sweden to prepare for a meeting with the Swedish monarch, Sten Sture the Elder. Johann planned to make a deal that would give him control of Sweden, creating a unified Scandinavian kingdom, as he had done with Norway before. But shortly after anchoring, the ship caught fire and sank, which was a great loss – laden with goods worthy of a rich and powerful ruler. At the same time, thanks to this ancient disaster, modern scientists have the chance to get to know the life of the medieval Scandinavians better.
The wreckage of the ship was found in the 1960s, but not all the cargo of interest to scientists was found during the initial voyages. The new study was started in 2019, and the most valuable find is the vessels containing well-preserved plant material containing nearly 3,000 specimens.
Among other things, valuable medieval spices were found: nutmeg, cloves, mustard, dill, saffron, ginger, black pepper and almonds. Many spices come from distant lands, including Indonesia, suggesting King Johann had access to an extensive trade network. Spices from Southeast Asia at that time were extremely expensive in Europe, as the Ottoman Empire blocked their way. There were also less exotic foods on board, such as dried blackberries, raspberries, grapes, and flax. In addition, henbane has been found that has been used for medicinal purposes in the past.
The researchers note that the plant specimens are in excellent condition due to the unique conditions in a cold, low-salinity part of the Baltic Sea where the ship was located.
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