Kuggmaren 1: the first cog find in the Stockholm archipelago, Sweden

Abstract

In 1998 a wreck in the Stockholm archipelago of the Baltic Sea came to the attention of the maritime archaeological community. It seemed to have cog-like characteristics, although opinions about its building tradition were initially divided. Subsequent survey and dating analysis not only established that this was a medieval, cog-like vessel but that it is relatively early. Its find spot, however, is consistent with medieval trading enterprise. This paper summarizes the results of the work to date and raises questions for future research.

Construction Features ofDoel 1, a 14th‐Century Cog found in Flanders

“…One of the most typical features shared by most cogs is the combination of a keelplank with knee‐shaped hooks and straight posts at each end, which serve as the backbone of the ship. Exceptions with a keel instead of a keelplank include the Oskarshamn wreck (Adams and Rönnby, : 177), the Mollö cog (Von Arbin and Daly, : 6), Kronholmen, Helgeandsholmen 2 and Skanör (Grille, : 24). The keelplank of the Bremen cog measures 8.30 x 0.47 x 0.10 m (Lahn, : 27).…”

The Mollö Cog Re-Examined and Re-Evaluated

“…Cleats were fastened with iron nails, and when later removed, pegs were used for plugging the holes. Such pegs have been observed in several other cog finds, such as the Dutch finds Noordoostpolder A 57 and Flevoland NZ 43 and the cog from Oskarshamn, Sweden (Oosting, 1987;Moortel, 1991;Adams and Rönnby, 2002). In traditional Dutch shipbuilding they are known as spijkerpennen ('nail plugs').…”

The Maritime Middle Ages—Past, Present, and Future. Some Ideas from a Scandinavian Horizon

“…Johan Rönnby, who found it, provided this photo (Figure 3), where your naked (ship archaeologist's) eye would immediately suspect a 'cog' according to the archaeological definition (with a prototype in the almost complete find of Bremen, but not necessarily the medieval meaning). It was radiocarbon dated to the thirteenth century (Adams & Rönnby, 2002). Interestingly, I have myself argued that many of the (quite numerous) place names with Kugg-as their first element in the Nordic archipelagoes would point precisely to what was in its heyday called a cog/ Kogge.…”