SCIENCE IN THE NEWS DAILY

Centuries-Old Shipwrecks Found in Baltic Sea

from the Seattle Times

STOCKHOLM (Associated Press) -- A dozen centuries-old shipwrecks--some of them unusually well-preserved--have been found in the Baltic Sea by a gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany.

The oldest wreck probably dates back to medieval times and could be up to 800 years old, while the others are likely from the 17th to 19th centuries, Peter Norman of Sweden's National Heritage Board said Tuesday.

... Thousands of wrecks--from medieval ships to warships sunk during the world wars of the 20th century--have been found in the Baltic Sea, which doesn't have the ship worm that destroys wooden wrecks in saltier oceans.