Fire!

When the first timbers were recovered in June 2023, the archaeologists immediately noticed that some surfaces were charred. After the documentation was completed, it was now possible to map their distribution in the ship. Exactly 187 pieces of the ship, or about 2/5 of all timbers, show charring of varying degrees. It is interesting to note that the fire was burning both in the upper part of the ship, as can be seen from the broken-off sides, and down in the hold. It must be assumed that the fire burned on board for some time and engulfed large parts of the ship before it sank in the Trave.

It is not yet possible to say what caused the fire. Was it human error or did the dangerous quicklime in the hold cause the disaster?

Graphic: F. Rösch