Hidden in the wreck

The Fredensborg went down on December 1, 1768, east of Tromøy. Before the ship sank, the crew had managed to salvage the logbook, documents, some of the ship's equipment, cargo and personal belongings.

Some of the goods were nonetheless lost for ever, but some were however preserved under layers of seaweed, rocks and sand. With the help of a special vacuum apparatus, an airlift were mud and sand were removed, so that the wreckage and other objects emerged. The objects found in the wreck consisted of sections of the ship, equipment, cargo from Africa and West Indies, and some personal possessions of the crew and passengers.

Three Norwegian divers found the wreck of Fredensborg in September 1974 after long and intensive research. The site of the search was based on information from the archives. 

Two archaeological excavations, supported by research, were carried out in co-operation with the Norwegian Maritime Museum and the County Museum of Aust-Agder in 1975 and 1977. A considerable amount of material related to the slave trade was uncovered in the sandy seabed.

Much of the hull was gone, which is normal in Scandinavian waters, apart from the Baltic. Heavy storms, and a worm (Teredo navalis) simply destroyed most of the slave ship.

In the wreck there were found many artefacts which tell us about life on board a slave ship. Some belong to the ship and others are part of the ship`s equipment.

In the archives in Copenhagen they have a complete inventory list from Fredensborg`s last journey. This list includes some of the items you can see here.

There are also many items for personal use. A small chest made of wood contained, among other things, two seals and three small sticks of sealing wax.

As you can see, the seals are beautifully formed.

Among the other artifacts found in the wreck were leather bindings from a Bible and a prayer book, an inkpot and empty medicine bottles, which belonged to Doctor Sixtus. Because of the frigate's journey in the "triangular" trade, certain objects are of special interest.

Of products taken on as cargo from St. Croix, there were found a large quantity of dyewood, and some mahogany wood. After 209 years in salt water, the dyewood is still active!

Objects of African origin are 51 large and small elephant tusks and 13 hippopotamus tusks. Some of the tusks were in bad condition, others in good shape.

Two animal bones, which could not have come from the provisions, could have been a part of an amulet.

Other articles found were many so-called "slave pipes". According to regulations one pipe was given to each of the slaves every day, except on Saturday. An African grinding stone was also found in the wreck. The mortar appears to have been well used.