Raising the 800-Year-Old Barge Boat from Arendsee
Ancient Ferry Vessel Extracted from Lake Arend After Over Eight Centuries Underwater - Ancient Vessel Raised from Lake Arend after 8 Centuries
Ready for an intriguing dive into medieval history? Let's talk about the sensational resurrection of a 800-year-old barge boat in Arendsee (Altmark), Germany!
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Ta-da! After hovering beneath the waters of Arendsee (Altmark) for about eight centuries, a medieval barge boat has risen from the murky depths of 35 meters. The maritime marvel has been safely placed onto a platform nestled in the heart of the lake, all thanks to the eight-hour-long effort of a 50-member salvage team, chain pulls, and an underwater robot. The ecstatic project leader, Sven Thomas from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, announced, "Now, the first floating medieval ship in Germany is in Arendsee!"
The team unearthed numerous artifacts from the time-worn ship, including bones, building materials, fishing tools like awls, pottery, ropes, and more. So, buckle up as we delve deeper into this historical treasure trove!
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So, what exactly is this remnants of a vessel? A barge boat, a flat-bottomed transport ship that has graced the waters since ancient times, is crafted from oak. This bad boy measures 12.50 meters in length, 2.50 meters in width, and approximately one meter in height, and it was powered by oars and sails. The barge harkens back to the 13th century, approximately 1265.
One interesting tidbit about the ship is that it appears to be a hollowed-out log, with only fresh-looking iron nails adorning it. High-resolution cameras are being used to create a comprehensive, 3D documentation, and it's been revealed that the ship is more of a dugout canoe, sawn in half and widened with planks. Additionally, the ship features partially iron-nailed construction, which gleams anew, signifying that it has spent its life buried beneath anaerobic sediment in the lake bottom. On top of that, there are bench seats on this boat!
Time is of the essence as the wood will decay in the air. Professor Thomas and his dedicated team are working tirelessly to complete their research and provide the foundation for a museum presentation. They will also be capturing the boat in astonishing detail using various methods, such as using laser scanners and drones for 3D documentation, as he states, "We will build an authentic model of the boat using the data."
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Known for its rich decoration with animal heads, like bears and birds, at the bow and stern, this inland ship was probably used for transporting residents and goods, like agricultural products, as revealed by the cargo of grain and timber discovered by archaeologists. The ship's transport capacity was roughly seven to eight tons. The barge boat appears to have once belonged to the monastery of Arendsee, constructed during the 13th century. Its first "ship owner" might have been Brandenburg Margrave Otto IV (around 1238-1308/09).
Once the documentation process is complete, the barge boat will be enveloped in a special fleece and lowered back into a shallower section of the lake at around 20 meters, making it easy to recover at a later date. Unfortunately, the financial resources required for permanent conservation and land storage of the entire boat are currently unavailable.
The discovery and salvage operation were supported by the Fraunhofer Institute, Institute for Applied Systems Technology (IOSB-AST/Ilmenau), while safety was ensured by the German Red Cross Water Rescue Halle. Sport divers stumbled upon the barge boat in the 1990s, and Arendsee boasts being one of the deepest natural lakes in northern Germany.
In short, the past and present are sensationalally blending in Arendsee with the resurrection of this 800-year-old barge boat. We can't wait to see the progress and the final museum presentation. Let's drink to history!
- The resurrected medieval barge boat, discovered in Arendsee (Altmark), Germany, is now undergoing a detailed study as per the community policy and employment policy of the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology.
- The team working on this historic project is equipped with advanced technology, such as high-resolution cameras, laser scanners, and drones, all a part of the employment policy and science technology landscape.
- The 800-year-old barge boat, intriguingly crafted with iron nails and native oak, might have been used for transporting goods and residents linked with the monastery of Arendsee, as suggested by the cargo findings.
- The efforts to preserve and document this 13th-century marvel are being supported by various organizations, including the Fraunhofer Institute, Institute for Applied Systems Technology (IOSB-AST/Ilmenau), German Red Cross Water Rescue Halle, as part of the employment policy and community collaboration.
