Archaeologists recently made a surprising discovery: they found that two ships of 18th century ships off the coast of Central America were in fact two Danish slave ships.
The ships, named Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus, are located in shallow waters off the Cahuita National Park of Costa Rica.
The 18th century ships were shipwrecked in 1710, according to the National Museum of Denmark.
“Fridericus Quartus was burnt down, while Christianus Quintus had his anchor cord cut, after which the ship was destroyed in surfing,” noted the press release from the museum.
“So far, it has not been clear exactly where the ships were lost.”
The images show divers carefully examining the sinking, which shows significant signs of disintegration of the last 315 years.
Although the ships were searched in 2023, the researchers did not know that they were slave ships until recently.
The ships had long been considered hacker ships.
The excavations involved, in part, samples of the wood of ships, as well as yellow bricks which were part of the cargo of the ship.
The researchers also carried out dendrochronological analyzes – dating to the tree – to determine where the wood comes from.
They found that it came from northern Europe.
“The Timbers are from the western part of the Baltic Sea, an area that includes the northeast province of the German of Mecklenburg, as well as Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and Scania-and the tree was shot in the years 1690-1695,” said the press release.
“Wood is also charred and soot, which confirms what historical sources say about one of the fire ships.”
Divers also found clay pipes, which the museum describes as “ordinary Dutch products that were also used on Danish ships”.
“The size, shape and patterns of the pipes suggest that they were produced during the period just before the ships became destroyed in 1710,” added the press release.
“Clay pipes have rarely been used for more than five years.”
The images also show the remarkable yellow bricks which survived the sinking, which was produced in Flensburg “for use in Denmark and in the Danish colonies in the 18th and 19th centuries”.
“In other European countries, other types of bricks and stones were fashionable when new buildings have been erected,” said the museum.
“The clay comes from Denmark – quite precisely, from Ilriom or Egernsund,” added the press release.
“The two locations are located by Flensburg Fjord, which, in the 18th century, housed an important brick producer industry.”
After samples of excavation were analyzed at the National Museum of Denmark and at the University of South Denmark, the researchers concluded that the results corroborate what historical sources say of the history of ships.
David Gregory, marine archaeologist at the National Museum of Denmark, said that the results corresponded “perfectly” to historical accounts on one of the burning ships.
“The analyzes are very convincing and we have no doubts that it is the wrecks of the two Danish slave ships,” said Gregory.
“The bricks are Danish and the same goes for the woods, which are also charred and sipple of a fire. This perfectly corresponds to the historical stories declaring that one of the ships has burned. ”
The marine archaeologist of the National Museum of Denmark, Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch, said that he “came to abandon” during the long research process – but is amazed by the results.
“It is undoubtedly the wildest archaeological excavations that I was still part,” said Bach.
“Not only because it greatly imports for the local population, but also because it is one of the most dramatic shipwrecks in the history of Denmark, and now we know exactly where it happened.”
“This provides two pieces that lacked in the history of Denmark.”
Fox News Digital contacted the National Museum of Denmark for more information.
