Workers were excavating a railway tunnel when they found six vessels buried under the old port of a Swedish city, with medieval shipwrecks and the remains of a ship from the 1530s preserved under the city center.

Written by Alisson Ficher

Published on 24/04/2026 at 13:45

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Archaeological discovery in Swedish railway construction exposes ships from different eras under urban area reclaimed over centuries, revealing preserved remains of Varberg’s ancient port and expanding knowledge of naval techniques and historical maritime circulation.

During construction of the Varberg railway tunnel in Sweden, six remains of buried vessels emerged in an area that was part of the city’s ancient coastline and port zone over the centuries.

The discovery occurred in the context of the Varbergstunneln project excavations, which ultimately opened access to historical layers previously hidden beneath the consolidated urban center.

According to Arkeologerna, an archaeological consultancy linked to the National Historical Museums of Sweden, four remains belong to the medieval or late-medieval period, while one was associated with the 17th century and another remains without precise dating.

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Ancient port beneath the modern city

Tunnel works in Sweden reveal six buried ships, including medieval vessels and a rare preserved 16th-century example.

With the progress of the works, it became possible to investigate a strip that, for centuries, was directly linked to maritime circulation, regional trade, and anchoring activities on Varberg’s historic coast.

Over time, however, this area was progressively reclaimed and incorporated into the urban fabric, remaining beyond the reach of studies until the opening of this excavation front.

Archaeologists from Arkeologerna, Bohusläns museum, Visuell arkeologi, and Kulturmiljö Halland participated in the work, in an operation that required quick responses given the pace imposed by the engineering schedule.

According to the team, the intervention ultimately created a rare opportunity to examine the city’s ancient waterfront at a point where modern structures and active railway infrastructure now predominate.

1530s ship is the best preserved

Among the identified remains, Varbergsvraket 2 stood out for presenting the most significant state of preservation among the vessels analyzed so far.

It is a sailing ship built of oak in the second half of the 1530s, with wood associated with the forest stock of the Halland region and western Sweden.

The first pieces were located in 2021, during a night excavation necessary for the installation of a containment structure next to the already existing railway.

At the time, the absence of an archaeologist on site and the impossibility of interrupting the work led to the immediate removal of the elements, which were separated for technical evaluation only the next day.

Even so, researchers indicate that a considerable part of the hull may remain buried on the other side of the containment implemented during the railway intervention.

Even with partial removal, it was possible to identify portions of the starboard side, as well as loose timbers and constructive details relevant to understanding the vessel.

Construction techniques reveal historical patterns

Analysis indicated that Varbergsvraket 2 was assembled using the clinker technique, characterized by the overlapping of the planks that form the vessel’s hull.

Furthermore, the structure externally preserved a berghult, an element that functions as reinforcement and lateral protection, especially in situations of contact with quays or other surfaces during mooring.

This detail sparked interest because the berghult usually appears more frequently in vessels built using frame-first construction techniques, although it is also recorded in clinker-built ships.

In the specific case found in Varberg, a cut was also observed in the upper part of the piece, interpreted as possible complementary structural support within the ship’s original configuration.

Another relevant aspect was the recording of fire marks on the berghult itself, now incorporated into analyses of the vessel’s use and eventual abandonment over time.

Despite this, there is no reliable confirmation about the origin of this damage, nor sufficient elements to determine exactly when it occurred within the ship’s history.

Other ships expand historical diversity

Also clinker-built, Varbergsvraket 5 featured wood associated with the same regional oak stock identified in the 16th-century ship.

Dating indicates that the trees used in this vessel were felled sometime in the 17th century, positioning the remains in a later period.

Obras em túnel na Suécia revelam seis navios enterrados, incluindo embarcações medievais e um raro exemplar do século XVI preservado. — Tunnel works in Sweden reveal six buried ships, including medieval vessels and a rare preserved 16th-century example.

On the other hand, Varbergsvraket 6 revealed distinct characteristics, evidencing the diversity of naval techniques present in the collection analyzed by specialists.

In this case, it is an oak sailboat built using frame-first construction, with planks arranged side-by-side, and it is also the only example from this stage that preserved its keel.

Described as a spunningsköl, this keel showed traces associated with the Dutch naval tradition, indicating possible external influences in the vessel’s construction.

Even so, dendrochronology could not precisely determine the origin of the wood or the exact felling date of the trees, leaving the example without a defined date.

Medieval remains still under analysis

Meanwhile, archaeologists continue to advance in the analysis of Varbergsvraken 3 and 4, identified as cogs dating from the 14th century.

This type of cargo vessel was widely used in medieval northern Europe, playing a significant role in the trade routes that connected different regions of the continent.

The collection of findings reinforces how major works in coastal areas can reveal preserved remains of ancient port environments, often hidden beneath modern urban layers.

In Varberg’s case, the combination of wet soil, successive landfills, and urban expansion contributed to preserving vessels from different periods beneath current streets, tracks, and structures.

Workers were excavating a railway tunnel when they found six vessels buried under the old port of a Swedish city, with medieval shipwrecks and the remains of a ship from the 1530s preserved under the city center.