After approximately 800 years, a medieval barge has resurfaced in Arendsee, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The recovery, which took about eight hours, involved placing the barge completely on a platform in the lake with the help of chain hoists and a diving robot.
Sven Thomas, project manager from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology, noted that this is the first floating medieval ship in Germany. The barge was raised from a depth of 35 meters on May 9, 2025.
Artifacts Discovered
Numerous artifacts were recovered from the ship, including bones, building materials, fishing tools, ceramics, and ropes. This discovery offers insights into medieval shipbuilding techniques and daily life in the Arendsee region.