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Shipwreck or sea mystery · 1487

The Viljo wreck, a medieval ship moved to the sea

Viljo vrakk, keskaegne laev, mis viidi merre

During a housing project on the former harbour shore of Kadriorg in Tallinn, builders uncovered two medieval ships. One of them became known as the Viljo wreck, after the building site's manager. It was a clinker-built ship in the Nordic tradition, made of local pine, and its timbers date it to 1487 or later. Only a fragment about 12 by 3.5 metres survives. Conserving such a large waterlogged piece in a tank was impossible, so after documentation it was lifted, sunk in Tallinn Bay off Naissaar and covered with sandbags to keep it wet.

Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today

Eesti keeles

Elamuehituse käigus Tallinnas Kadrioru endisel sadamarannal leidsid ehitajad kaks keskaegset laeva. Üks neist sai ehitusplatsi juhataja järgi nimeks Viljo vrakk. See oli Põhjamaade traditsioonis kinkpordis laev, ehitatud kohalikust männist, ja puidu järgi on see valminud 1487. aastal või hiljem. Alles on vaid umbes 12 × 3,5-meetrine fragment. Nii suure märja puitosa konserveerimine mahutis polnud võimalik, mistõttu pärast dokumenteerimist tõsteti see üles, uputati Naissaare lähedal Tallinna lahte ja kaeti liivakottidega, et puit märjaks jääks.

Map of the area around The Viljo wreck, a medieval ship moved to the sea
59.58024° N, 24.61717° E · Map: Maa- ja Ruumiamet

Source: Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, MASS: Viljo; Estonian heritage register no. 30720 ↗

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