Archaeologists from Lund University have uncovered uniquely preserved artillery from the wreck of Gribshunden, the late medieval Danish-Norwegian flagship that sank in 1495. The study shows that the ship’s weapons closely resemble those of early Spanish and Portuguese explorers, shedding light on how maritime powers were equipped at the dawn of European colonisation.
Gribshunden, built in the 1480s, served King Hans of Denmark and Norway as a “floating castle” and remains the world’s best-preserved ship from the Age of Exploration. Equipped with more than 50 small-calibre guns, it demonstrates how naval artillery shaped early tactics of dominance, boarding, and territorial expansion.
The Lund University team digitally recreated several of the weapons from 3D scans, offering rare insight into shipboard warfare technology of the 15th century. The discovery also raises questions about why Denmark did not pursue overseas expansion like Spain and Portugal, despite possessing similar capabilities.
Artifacts from the wreck are currently curated at Blekinge Museum in Sweden, with plans underway for a dedicated Gribshunden museum in Ronneby.
Photo: Klas Malmberg / Lund University
Source: Lund University
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