Norwegian Archaeologists Excavate 250-Year-Old 'Porcelain Wreck' in Skagerrak Strait

Discovered upright at a depth of 2,000 feet in the Skagerrak strait between Norway and Denmark, a 250-year-old merchant ship has been dubbed 'the Porcelain Wreck' due to its remarkably intact cargo of Chinese ceramics. Norwegian watchmaker and commercial diver Espen Saastad found the vessel in late 2025 and alerted the authorities. A preliminary investigation by the Norwegian Maritime Museum took place in May 2026, with results published on June 1. The two-masted ship, measuring over 70 feet, exemplifies 18th-century merchant galleys. Artifacts recovered include blue-and-white porcelain, chandeliers, goblets, textiles, and crates likely containing tea and herbs. The project, supported by 2.9 million Norwegian Krone ($300,000), marks 'a new era for Norwegian archaeology.' Hanna Geiran and Nina Refseth highlighted the significance of this unlooted wreck.