Atlantic Ocean: road from yellow bricks to the bottom led to an impressive discovery
An unexpected discovery at the bottom of the Atlantic revealed two historical wrecks, which for more than three centuries no one knew their exact position.
Archaeologists found a « yellow road » from bricks off Costa Rica, which led them to lost Danish slave ships Fridericus Quartus and Christianus Quintus.
According to historical records, the two ships were wrecked in 1710. Fridericus Quartus was set on fire and Christianus quintus was destroyed by waves when his anchor was broken.
Although the locals knew the existence of two shipwrecks off the coast of the Cahuita National Park, they were considered pirate ships.
Bricks, wood and clay tubes
In 2015, US marine archaeologists found the characteristic yellow bricks at the bottom, raising new questions about their history. In 2023, researchers from Denmark and specifically from the Danish Museum and the Viking Museum of Viking were underwater excavation, recovering samples of wood, bricks and clay pipes.
The analysis of the findings confirmed that the wrecks belong to the two Danish slaves. « The bricks are Danish, as are the woods, which are extra burnt and smoked fire. This fits perfectly with historical reports that one of the ships burned, « explained researcher David Gregory of the Danish National Museum.
Archaeologists identified a « yellow road » from bricks off Costa Rica
Brick measurements revealed that they were the same size as the yellow bricks « Flensburg » used in Denmark and Danish colonies during 1700.
The oak wood came from the Baltic area and was cut around 1690–1695. The Dutch -made clay pipes were a common cargo on Danish ships of the time. « The size, shape and designs of the pipes indicate that they were constructed just before the shipwreck in 1710, » according to researchers.
« We have no doubt about the identity of the ships, » David Gregory said. Archaeologist Andreas Kallmeyer Bloch, who led the many years of research, described the excavation as the most shocking of his career.
« It’s not just an important discovery for the local community, but it complements two lost pieces from the history of Danish, » he said excitedly.
Denmark banned the transnational trading of slaves in 1792, but slavery was officially abolished in 1847.
The research was conducted by the Njord Research Center of the National Museum, which plans to identify other wrecks of similar historical importance around the world.
