Tracing Trade Routes: Examining the Cargo of the 15th-Century Skaftö Wreck

The Skaftö wreck of c.1440, situated north of Gothenburg, Sweden, was investigated between the years 2005 and 2009. Investigations revealed a variety of cargoes, such as copper and speiss ingots, barrels with lime and tar, bricks and roof tiles, and oak timber in the form of planks and boards. In order to identify the different cargo types found on the wreck, and, possibly, establish their geographical origin, a variety of analytical methods have been utilized. The present study accounts for the archaeological investigations of the cargo and for the analyses that have been conducted to date. Results are compared to and discussed in relation to other contemporaneous source material, both historical and archaeological. Based on this examination, it is concluded that the vessel was heading from the southeastern corner of the Baltic Sea, most likely Danzig (Gdańsk), aiming for the Western European market, possibly Bruges.