Beneath the waves of the North Sea lies a valuable archaeological resource. Thousands of wrecks – of ships and also planes – lie like time capsules on the sea bed. Little remains of some wrecks, while others are still virtually intact. We do not know the precise location of some, and are entirely unaware of the existence of others.
Wrecks and obstructions also do not lie on the seabed. Tidal currents cause turbulences that pull grinding channels in the seabed around a wreck. A wreck can slip away and become completely buried by the sandy seabed over the years.
Every wreck is unique and tells its own story. Many ships have sunk in this region over the centuries, from prehistoric dugout canoes to Viking ships, from Dutch East India Company ships to steamships, from submarines to patrol boats, and from fishing boats to more recently lost freighters. Together, these wrecks give us an insight into the maritime history of the North Sea, which gives them great cultural importance.
Wrecks are also biodiversity hotspots, home to entirely different plants and creatures than the surrounding sea bed. This also makes wrecks interesting for fishermen and divers. Not every wreck is ecologically valuable. This depends on various factors, including the age of the wreck, the material in the wreck and its distance from the coast.
The layer wrecks gives a general overview of archaeological remains in the North Sea. An unknown number of them consists of archaeological remains, including old shipwrecks and settlements. Another part consists of lost cargo, sunken ships and ship components.
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Enter data source for North Sea here.
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yyyy-mm-dd North Sea
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Baltic Sea types here
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yyyy-mm-dd Baltic Sea
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Clyde Marine Region types here
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yyyy-mm-dd Clyde Marine Region
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Adriatic Sea types here
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yyyy-mm-dd Adriatic Sea
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Co-funded by the European Union.