Dannebroge wreck and sailor remains found 225 years after Battle of Copenhagen

Marine archaeologists in Copenhagen Harbor located the wreck of the Danish flagship Dannebroge and recovered part of a sailor's lower jaw during monthslong excavations announced on the 225th anniversary of the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen.

Marine archaeologists have located the wreck of the Danish flagship Dannebroge and recovered part of a sailor's lower jaw in Copenhagen Harbor. The Viking Ship Museum is leading monthslong underwater excavations announced on the 225th anniversary of the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen. Divers are working about 50 feet below the surface in thick sediment and near-zero visibility. Teams say they are racing against time because the dig area will soon be affected by construction for the Lynetteholm housing project. Key findings: - The wreck is identified as the Dannebroge, a 157-foot Danish flagship that sank during the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen. - Archaeologists recovered part of a sailor's lower jaw, possibly one of 19 crew members long unaccounted for from the ship. - Objects recovered include two cannons, uniforms, insignia, shoes, bottles, ceramics and pieces of basketry. - Dendrochronological dating of wooden parts matches the ship's construction year, and timber sizes correspond with historical drawings. - Divers report low visibility, silt clouds and scattered cannonballs as hazards while working about 50 feet down. - The dig site lies within the area planned for Lynetteholm, a large new housing district that will alter the seabed. Summary: The discoveries provide material evidence tied to a well-known 1801 naval engagement and offer insight into objects and personal items from those aboard the Dannebroge. Archaeological excavation and analysis are continuing, and the site's longer-term status is linked to the Lynetteholm construction project.