In 2023, during preparations for an underwater gas pipeline in the Bay of Greifswald, a quiet lagoon in northern Germany, divers stumbled upon a previously unknown shipwreck. The discovery came after they noticed unusual items on the seabed, including shoe soles, pulley blocks, and a rusty anchor. A team of five archaeologists conducted a rescue excavation, making 22 dives over 12 days. Their findings were published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, offering a glimpse into a ship that was built roughly 400 years ago. The wreck was located about 25 feet (7.5 meters) below the surface on a soft, silty seabed, which made the excavation difficult. The archaeologists documented over 60 objects, including wooden stocks, rope, barrel staves, and a hollowed-out oak trunk likely used as the ship’s bilge pump. The hull was in poor condition, with only a fragment of outer planking measuring about 24 feet (7.5 meters) and scattered loose frames and timbers. The ship used a construction technique called clinker construction, where planks were overlapped and fastened with iron nails, and gaps were sealed with a mix of tar and animal hair. Tree rings preserved in one of the ship’s timbers suggest the tree was felled between 1626 and 1639. The team also found bones that indicate the crew may have eaten pigs, as well as either sheep or goat. Among the artifacts were carpentry tools, including a hand drill handle similar to those found on the Tudor warship Mary Rose, suggesting the ship had a workshop for long voyages. Only a few personal items were found, such as two shoe soles and a stitched leather strap. One mysterious object remains a puzzle: a flat clay brick with holes, stuck inside a block of oak. Researchers believe it might have been used to sharpen tools like chisels or drill bits. The ship’s exact age and the cause of its sinking are still unclear. Some timbers showed signs of burning, which might indicate a fire, and the presence of two anchors and a buoy suggests the ship may have been at anchor when it sank. To protect the wreck, the pipeline was rerouted, and the site was covered with sandbags, preserving it as a time capsule. The study also suggests that more of the ship may lie to the east of the discovery site, an area yet to be explored. This find is part of a growing trend, as offshore energy projects in the bay have led to more underwater discoveries, revealing the hidden history beneath the waves.