Rope from the Rutten cog, a 13th Century Seagoing Vessel found in The Netherlands

Abstract

A rope recovered from the wreck of a mediaeval cog near Rutten (N oordoostpolder, The Netherlands) was found to be made of non-retted hemp bark. It was classified as a "three production step rope" . Cellulose and hemicellulose o f the secondary walls of the bast fibres of the rope had disappeared, but lignin was not affected and had preserved the shape of the rope.