https://phys.org/news/2023-02-trove-spices-world-sunken-fifteenth-century.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 764 * 88 * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Other Sciences 3. Archaeology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- February 10, 2023 report Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship by Bob Yirka , Phys.org Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship Black pepper from the Gribshunden shipwreck. Plant parts of black pepper: a-c) different views of peppercorns, d) stalk segments, some with unripe berries of pepper. Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281010 A pair of archaeologists with Lund University in Sweden has found "a treasure trove" of plants aboard a sunken 15th-century Norse ship. Mikael Larsson and Brendan Foley describe their findings in PLOS ONE. In 1495, Danish King Hans docked his ship Gribshunden off the coast of Sweden in preparation for a meeting with Swedish ruler, Sten Sture the Elder. His plan was to broker a deal that would give him control over Sweden as he had done with Norway, creating a united Nordic kingdom. Unfortunately for Hans and many of his crew, the ship caught fire and sank. To give himself the upper hand, the King had filled his ship with both warriors and goods worthy of a rich and powerful man. The loss of the ship led to a change in plans--Hans attacked Sweden soon thereafter and conquered the country instead of negotiating for it. But the sinking of the ship also created a motherlode of artifacts for modern historians to study. The wreck of the ship was found in the 1960s and was studied by marine archaeologists in the years thereafter, but not very thoroughly. The new study was launched in 2019 and continued through 2021. The team found that most of the expected artifacts had already been found in earlier expeditions, but something important had been overlooked--containers holding well-preserved plant material--more than 3,000 specimens. Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship Saffron from the Gribshunden shipwreck site. Plant parts of saffron: a-c) stigmas, d) petri dish showing a portion of the recovered saffron stigmas. Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281010 The researchers found spices such as nutmeg, cloves, mustard and dill. They also found samples of other plant material, such as saffron and ginger, peppercorns and almonds. Some of the spices would have come from as far away as Indonesia, suggesting that King Hans had developed an advanced trade network. The researchers also found snack items, such as dried blackberries, raspberries, grapes and flax, each find showing just how rich and powerful Hans had become. The researchers also found one non-edible plant, henbane, which, in the past, was used for medicinal purposes. The researchers note that the plant specimens were in excellent condition due to the unique conditions of the site where the ship was found, a part of the Baltic Sea that is cold and low in salinity. More information: Mikael Larsson et al, The king's spice cabinet-Plant remains from Gribshunden, a 15th century royal shipwreck in the Baltic Sea, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0281010 Journal information: PLoS ONE (c) 2023 Science X Network Citation: Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship (2023, February 10) retrieved 11 February 2023 from https://phys.org/news/ 2023-02-trove-spices-world-sunken-fifteenth-century.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Explore further Cutting edge science reveals Gribshunden's shipwrecked secrets --------------------------------------------------------------------- 858 shares * Facebook * Twitter * Email Feedback to editors [INS::INS] * Featured * Last Comments * Popular How fingerprints get their unique whorls Feb 10, 2023 0 Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship Feb 10, 2023 0 Mexican jumping beans exhibit diffusive motion, study finds Feb 10, 2023 0 On-chip mechanical exceptional points based on an optomechanical zipper cavity Feb 9, 2023 0 Sheep who experience the same shared stress event tend to bond over it Feb 8, 2023 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------- [gif] Beach erosion: Satellites reveal how climate cycles impact coastlines 13 hours ago [gif] New models shed light on life's origin Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Researchers use water treatment method to capture acids from agricultural waste Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Researchers detail never-before-seen properties in a family of superconducting Kagome metals Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Evidence that deep-sea black carbon comes from hydrothermal vents Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Researchers build more detailed picture of the movement of the Greenland Ice Sheet Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Neuroscientist investigates social cognition in biased juries Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Scientists develop graphene aerogel particles for efficient water purification Feb 10, 2023 [gif] Does increasing farm productivity relieve pressure on remaining natural areas? Study suggests only among native people Feb 10, 2023 [gif] A liquid laser that is robust in air and tunable by wind Feb 10, 2023 [INS::INS] * Related Stories [gif] Cutting edge science reveals Gribshunden's shipwrecked secrets Sep 16, 2022 [gif] Atlantic sturgeon in the king's pantry: Unique discovery in Baltic Sea wreck from 1495 Aug 27, 2020 [gif] Spectacular discoveries during excavation of unique flagship Gribshunden Sep 6, 2019 [gif] Medieval ship found off the west coast of Sweden Feb 4, 2022 [gif] Swedes find 17th century sister vessel to famed Vasa warship Oct 25, 2022 [gif] Newport ship: After 20 years' work, experts are ready to reassemble medieval vessel found in the mud Feb 7, 2023 * Recommended for you [gif] 2.9-million-year-old butchery site reopens case of who made first stone tools Feb 9, 2023 [gif] New research suggests drought accelerated Hittite Empire collapse Feb 8, 2023 [gif] Proof that Neanderthals ate crabs is another 'nail in the coffin' for primitive cave dweller stereotypes Feb 7, 2023 [gif] Codebreakers crack secrets of the lost letters of Mary, Queen of Scots Feb 7, 2023 [gif] Mysterious skeleton revealed to be that of unusual lady anchoress of York Barbican Feb 7, 2023 [gif] Prehistoric human migration in Southeast Asia driven by sea-level rise, study reveals Feb 6, 2023 Load comments (0) Let us know if there is a problem with our content Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines). Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request [-- please select one -- ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message to the editors [ ] Your email (only if you want to be contacted back) [ ] Send Feedback Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors. Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages. E-mail the story Trove of spices from around the world found on sunken fifteenth-century Norse ship Your friend's email [ ] Your email [ ] [ ] I would like to subscribe to Science X Newsletter. Learn more Your name [ ] Note Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient's address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Phys.org in any form. [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Your message [ ] Send Newsletter sign up Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. [ ] Subscribe More information Privacy policy Medical Xpress Medical Xpress Medical research advances and health news Tech Xplore Tech Xplore The latest engineering, electronics and technology advances Science X Science X The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web Newsletters [ ] Subscribe Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox Follow us * * * * * Top * Home * Search * Mobile version * Help * FAQ * About * Contact * Science X Account * Sponsored Account * Archive * News wire * Android app * iOS app * RSS feeds * Push notification (c) Phys.org 2003 - 2023 powered by Science X Network Privacy policy Terms of use Your Privacy This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Ok Cookie options E-mail newsletter [ ] Subscribe Follow us * * * * It appears that you are currently using Ad Blocking software. What are the consequences? x Quantcast