Moat at Vordingborg Castle “coughed up” a medieval rowing Boat
Around 1160 the Castle at Vordingborg in Denmark was built on top of a manor dating from the 11th century. This castle was circular and surrounded by a moat. All in all it covered an area 30 x 40 meters. The next 200 years the castle was continuously expanded until a total renovation took place during the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (1320 – 1375). This radical remodelling resulted in a layout measuring app. 185 x 240 meters. It consisted of a castle with a bailey surrounded by a 740 meter long curtain wall, encircled by a 35 meter broad moat at the front. It played an important role in the constant warring between the Danish Crown and the North German Hanseatic League
The castle, though ruined, is still an impressive edifice. 2011 the Castle was endowed with more than $13/€10/£8 mill in order to renovate the castle and build a new visitor-centre. Part of this project is a reconstruction of the moat; naturally extensive archaeological excavations accompany this. The other day the archaeologists struck – if not gold – then something much more rare: a medieval rowing boat. Approximately 6 meters long it dates to the late 14th century and must have been used as a small fishing vessel in the moat. It carries signs of extensive use.
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