17th-Century Shipwreck Emerges Near Kastellholmen

A 32-meter-long shipwreck from the 1600s has become clearly visible in the waters just off Kastellholmen in Stockholm. Normally submerged, the wreck is now exposed due to unusually low water levels. According to Jim Hansson, a marine archaeologist and shipwreck expert, this rare visibility has drawn public attention. "I've been on site several times, and people are making pilgrimages to see it," he said. "You couldn't ask for better publicity for our work." Hansson notes that Sweden is believed to hold over 1,000 shipwrecks, but only about 100 have been discovered so far. "It shows up almost every time we dip our heads below the surface," he added. The last time this particular wreck was clearly visible was in 2013. Samples were taken then, but no definitive dating could be established. In 2015, Hansson and his colleagues were commissioned by the County Administrative Board to carry out an archaeological survey in the same area, expecting to find three or four additional wrecks. Public awareness of underwater cultural heritage remains limited unless wrecks become visible like this one at Kastellholmen. Hansson emphasizes that such exposures offer rare opportunities for both research and public engagement with Sweden’s maritime history.