Amazing findings by The Wreck’s Musems marine archaeologists

Museum Vrak’s naval archaeologists have worked together with the Navy to find Vasa’s sister ship Äpplet. Not only did they find the ship that sank in 1659, now they have also found a sculpture in fine condition, which is a fantastic and unexpected discovery.

The regal ship Vasa was not the only ship that King Gustav II Adolf ordered to be built. Just over a year after the sinking of Vasa in 1628, the Äpplet was put into service for the 30 year war, which lasted all the way until 1659 when the Äpplet was deliberately sunk outside Vaxholm. After a lot of research and investigations, a wreck was found in December 2021, which after several samples turned out to be the long-awaited ship Äpplet.

Wreck’s marine archaeologists have worked together with the Navy during the spring to recreate an image of the wreck using 3D technology. You find two large wooden lions that should have been in the stern of the ship and also an apple that would have been the national apple, the apple that gave the ship its name.

Due to the environment of the Baltic Sea, it creates the best conditions for the material to be preserved for many years. That is why the Vasa ship at the Vasa Museum is preserved at 98% of its original form. At Vrak – Museum of Wreck’s – in Wasahamnen there is an opportunity to go on a themed weekend where they tell you everything about the ship Apple’s time above the surface, below the surface and the newest findings.

Read more about the findings and the ship here.