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15h ago

Dannebroge, Danish Flagship Sunk in 1801, Found in Copenhagen Harbor

A looming artificial-island build called Lynetteholm forces a rapid excavation.

An archaeologist points to a computer screen, showing a map of the wreck of Danish flagship "Dannebroge" that sank during the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)
This human jaw is thought to be long to one of the 19 missing crew members from the Dannebroge.
These grapeshots were among the evidence of the battle found by the archaeologists.
A uniform badge found at the scene of the wreckage.

Overview

  • The Viking Ship Museum, which announced the find Thursday on the battle’s 225th anniversary, says divers have begun bringing the wreck and artifacts to the surface.
  • Researchers identify the ship as Dannebroge based on timber dating to its 1772 build year and dimensions that match historic drawings.
  • Recovered items include two cannons, fragments of uniforms and insignia, shoes, bottles, clay pipes, and a human lower jaw with other likely human bones.
  • The site lies 15 meters underwater in near-zero visibility, and crews are working fast because the Lynetteholm artificial island will reshape the harbor area used for the dig.
  • All finds are being photographed and 3D-scanned, and experts may test DNA to link remains to missing crew, offering a rare view into the sailors’ lives and losses in the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen.