Germany: The European significance of the wreck site of the Darsser Cog

The Darsser Cog shares several construction-details with the well-known Bremer Cog. As such, it is an important indicator of the changing shipbuilding traditions of the 13th century in the Baltic area. More influences from the North Sea area came into the Baltic Sea, such as the flat, in carvel-technique built hulls - as in the "Darsser Cog". During this time period, the decline and the sword-christianisation of the Slavonic tribes in north-eastern Europe by German knights and the colonisation of this area by western European farmers and settlers took place, followed by the foundation of thousands of new villages and towns and a vast deforestation. The using of the new carvel technique shows that the radical alteration in society and economy in the 13th century had also an influence on handicraft traditions.

The cargo of the ship consisted of roof tiles, Norwegian wetstones and pieces of antler, which give a good picture of the trade in the early phase of the hanseatic period. In addition to these, parts of the crew's equipment have been found in the wreck and its surroundings, which probably will give detailed information about the standard of seafaring techniques in the 13th century.