Archaeologists recently made a startling discovery: They found that two 18th-century shipwrecks off the coast of Central America were actually two Danish slave ships.
The ships, named Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, are situated in shallow waters off Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park.
The 18th-century vessels were shipwrecked in 1710, based on the National Museum of Denmark.
“Fridericus Quartus was set ablaze, while Christianus Quintus had its anchor rope cut, following which the ship was wrecked within the surf,” the museum’s press release noted.
“Until now, it has not been clear exactly where the ships were lost.”
Pictures show divers rigorously examining the shipwreck, which shows signs of great decay from the past 315 years.
Though the ships were excavated in 2023, researchers didn’t know that they were slave ships until recently.
The vessels were long believed to be pirate ships.
The excavation involved, partly, taking samples from the wood of the ships, in addition to yellow bricks that were a part of the ship’s cargo.
Researchers also conducted dendrochronological analyses — tree-ring dating — to find out where the wood got here from.
They found it got here from Northern Europe.
“The timbers originate within the western a part of the Baltic Sea, an area that encompasses the northeastern German province of Mecklenburg, in addition to Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and Scania — and that the tree was cut down sometime throughout the years 1690-1695,” the discharge said.
“The wood is, furthermore, charred and sooty, which confirms what historical sources say about one in all the ships being set ablaze.”
Divers also found clay pipes, which the museum describes as “bizarre, Dutch-produced pipes that were also used onboard Danish ships.”
“The scale, shape and patterns of the pipes suggest that they were produced within the period right before the ships became wrecked in 1710,” the press release added.
“Clay pipes were rarely used for greater than five years.”
Pictures also show the remarkable yellow bricks that survived the shipwreck, which were produced in Flensburg “to be used in Denmark and within the Danish colonies within the 18th and nineteenth centuries.”
“In other European countries, other forms of bricks and stones were in fashion when latest buildings were erected,” the museum said.
“The clay comes from Denmark — quite specifically, from either Iller Strand or Egernsund,” the statement added.
“Each locations are situated by Flensburg Fjord, which was, within the 18th century, home to a sizeable brick-producing industry.”
After samples from the excavation were analyzed on the National Museum of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark, researchers concluded the findings corroborate what historical sources say concerning the history of the ships.
David Gregory, a marine archaeologist on the National Museum of Denmark, said that the outcomes fit “perfectly” with historical accounts about one in all the ships burning.
“The analyses are very convincing and we now not have any doubts that these are the wrecks of the 2 Danish slave ships,” Gregory said.
“The bricks are Danish and the identical goes for the timbers, that are moreover charred and sooty from a hearth. This matches perfectly with the historical accounts stating that one in all the ships burnt.”
National Museum of Denmark marine archaeologist Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch said he’d “come near giving up” throughout the long research process – but is stunned by the outcomes.
“That is undoubtedly the craziest archaeological excavation I’ve yet been a part of,” Bach said.
“Not only since it matters greatly to the local population, but in addition since it’s probably the most dramatic shipwrecks within the history of Denmark, and now we all know exactly where it happened.”
“This provides two pieces which have been missing from the history of Denmark.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the National Museum of Denmark for added information.
Archaeologists recently made a startling discovery: They found that two 18th-century shipwrecks off the coast of Central America were actually two Danish slave ships.
The ships, named Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, are situated in shallow waters off Costa Rica’s Cahuita National Park.
The 18th-century vessels were shipwrecked in 1710, based on the National Museum of Denmark.
“Fridericus Quartus was set ablaze, while Christianus Quintus had its anchor rope cut, following which the ship was wrecked within the surf,” the museum’s press release noted.
“Until now, it has not been clear exactly where the ships were lost.”
Pictures show divers rigorously examining the shipwreck, which shows signs of great decay from the past 315 years.
Though the ships were excavated in 2023, researchers didn’t know that they were slave ships until recently.
The vessels were long believed to be pirate ships.
The excavation involved, partly, taking samples from the wood of the ships, in addition to yellow bricks that were a part of the ship’s cargo.
Researchers also conducted dendrochronological analyses — tree-ring dating — to find out where the wood got here from.
They found it got here from Northern Europe.
“The timbers originate within the western a part of the Baltic Sea, an area that encompasses the northeastern German province of Mecklenburg, in addition to Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and Scania — and that the tree was cut down sometime throughout the years 1690-1695,” the discharge said.
“The wood is, furthermore, charred and sooty, which confirms what historical sources say about one in all the ships being set ablaze.”
Divers also found clay pipes, which the museum describes as “bizarre, Dutch-produced pipes that were also used onboard Danish ships.”
“The scale, shape and patterns of the pipes suggest that they were produced within the period right before the ships became wrecked in 1710,” the press release added.
“Clay pipes were rarely used for greater than five years.”
Pictures also show the remarkable yellow bricks that survived the shipwreck, which were produced in Flensburg “to be used in Denmark and within the Danish colonies within the 18th and nineteenth centuries.”
“In other European countries, other forms of bricks and stones were in fashion when latest buildings were erected,” the museum said.
“The clay comes from Denmark — quite specifically, from either Iller Strand or Egernsund,” the statement added.
“Each locations are situated by Flensburg Fjord, which was, within the 18th century, home to a sizeable brick-producing industry.”
After samples from the excavation were analyzed on the National Museum of Denmark and the University of Southern Denmark, researchers concluded the findings corroborate what historical sources say concerning the history of the ships.
David Gregory, a marine archaeologist on the National Museum of Denmark, said that the outcomes fit “perfectly” with historical accounts about one in all the ships burning.
“The analyses are very convincing and we now not have any doubts that these are the wrecks of the 2 Danish slave ships,” Gregory said.
“The bricks are Danish and the identical goes for the timbers, that are moreover charred and sooty from a hearth. This matches perfectly with the historical accounts stating that one in all the ships burnt.”
National Museum of Denmark marine archaeologist Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch said he’d “come near giving up” throughout the long research process – but is stunned by the outcomes.
“That is undoubtedly the craziest archaeological excavation I’ve yet been a part of,” Bach said.
“Not only since it matters greatly to the local population, but in addition since it’s probably the most dramatic shipwrecks within the history of Denmark, and now we all know exactly where it happened.”
“This provides two pieces which have been missing from the history of Denmark.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the National Museum of Denmark for added information.
