The wreck of the sailing ship Nargen, which sank near Naissaar presumably at the end of 16th century, is another site that the archaeologists of the Estonian Maritime Museum researched during this year’s field works.
‘We plan to conclude the investigative works we started on the cultural heritage site. Starting from this year, our team once again has the capability to carry out full-scale archaeological investigations underwater. Using this capability, we hope to answer the questions that the research started last decade has not managed to resolve – the origin, type, and role of Nargen as well as the origin and use of related findings. This data can unlock new knowledge of maritime trade at the time and of Tallinn’s role therein,’ said Ivar Treffner, researcher at the Estonian Maritime Museum.
The wreck of the sailing ship Nargen was discovered by the Estonian Navy in 2015 during a mine countermeasures operation. This June, the researchers of the Estonian Maritime Museum continued to study the wreck in cooperation with the employees of the National Heritage Board and the representatives of the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy. Both a sonar and a diving were used on the wreck.
‘A 3D model will be created on the basis of the underwater photos and videos taken of the Nargen wreck. On the one hand, it provides a comprehensive picture of the current state and details of the wreck. On the other hand, the model allows supplementing our knowledge of Estonian as well as European maritime affairs in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Any peculiarities we can find on the wreck will help to determine the type of the ship. With the help of the model, we can take wood samples from the wreck and its cargo. Analysing the results allows us to determine when and where the ship was built and how long and how it was used,’ said Priit Lätti, researcher at the Estonian Maritime Museum.
The 3D model of the sailing ship Nargen will be fully completed this summer. Then, researchers of the Estonian Maritime Museum will continue to study the findings in cooperation with other professionals.
In addition to the research on the military planes of Hiiumaa, which has already been carried out, and the ongoing studies of the sailing ship Nargen, the archaeologists of the Maritime Museum plan to continue working on the wrecks of the citadel and the fluyt located near Tallinn. Samples must be taken of the wood of the citadel located in the coastal waters near Pirita to specify the time of construction of the structure. Works are planned for the fluyt located on the Uusmadal shoal that would allow documenting the constructional peculiarities of the wreck of the seventeenth-century trading ship.
Photos (Estonian Maritime Museum):
One of the foundings near the wreck
Photo taken by the sonar
The 3D model to be created of the wreck and its surroundings
Map of the location of the wreck
