Peeter Wreck, after 1296

Country: Estonia

Place: Former harbour area of Kadriorg, Tallinn

Coordinates (approximate): 59.4400, 24.7900 (district only)

Type: Cog (Bremen type), merchant vessel

Identified: Archaeological type; historical name unknown (named after the excavator operator who found it)

Dated: Around or after AD 1296

 

Beam: About 6.8 m

Keel Length: Not applicable (keel plank).

Length Overall: About 18 m

Number of Masts: Unknown.

 

History of the wreck

The wreck was uncovered during a housing development in Kadriorg, in Tallinn’s former harbour area. The excavator operator, Peeter Hallikas, stopped work when timbers appeared, and the vessel was named after him. The National Heritage Board documented and salvaged it (Roio et al. 2015).

Burn marks suggest that fire may have contributed to its loss. Pottery, stone mortars, metal tripods, shoes, rigging components and food remains were left aboard. The conserved hull is suspended for viewing in the Fat Margaret tower of the Estonian Maritime Museum.

 

Description of the site

The ship was found under reclaimed ground in Kadriorg, east of the medieval centre of Tallinn. The coordinates mark the district only.

 

Cargo

Not reported; pottery, stone mortars, metal tripods, shoes, rigging components and food remains were found.

 

Ballast

Not reported.

 

Anchors

Not reported.

 

Guns

Not reported.

 

Iron concretions

Not reported.

 

Hull Remains

The oak hull is about 18 m long and 6.8 m wide, with a flat keel plank, straight raking stem and sternpost, a flush-laid bottom and clinker sides, which place it in the bottom-based Bremen-type tradition. Its suspension in the museum allows the lower and inner faces of the hull to be examined.

 

Keel, keelson and mast step

Flat keel plank; straight raking stem and sternpost.

 

Frames

Not reported.

 

Planking

Flush-laid bottom and clinker-built sides.

 

Ceiling, thick stuff, and wales

Not reported.

 

Caulking

Moss.

 

Size and scantlings

Length about 18 m; beam about 6.8 m.

 

Wood

Oak, from East Pomerania.

 

Bibliography

MaSS. “Peeter.” [Full reference to be completed.]

Roio, M., et al. 2015. “Medieval ship finds from Kadriorg, Tallinn.” [Full reference to be completed.]