10. august 1628. The Swedish king’s great pride – the warship Vasa – is launched, sets sail and sets off on its maiden voyage.
It is one of the largest and most magnificent vessels of the time. The ship was built to strengthen the country’s military control in the Baltic Sea area.
King Gustav II Adolf orders two gun decks with a total of 64 bronze cannons – although the Vasa is only built for one, according to Large Norwegian encyclopedia.
The king wants the ship to appear muscular and intimidating to the enemy.
ANCIENT: The warship Vasa is today on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. Photo: AFP PHOTO/JONATHAN NACKSTRAND Show more
Before the Vasa is scheduled to transport 300 Swedish marines to Germany, the warship must be shown to spectators in Stockholm’s archipelago.
Then things go wrong.
Sink after 20 minutes
Just 20 minutes after the ship leaves the quay, it sinks to a depth of 32 metres. Sweden’s leading naval vessel manages to sail 1,300 meters before the disaster is a fact.
RECONSTRUCTING: Oscar D. Nilsson works on Gertrude’s face. Photo: Oscar D. Nilsson Show more
It was not until 1961 that the ship was raised from the bottom of the sea – over 300 years after the sinking. Along with Vasa, 18 skeletons also saw the light of day, although it is estimated that 30 to 50 people perished.
Archaeologist and sculptor Oscar D. Nilsson (52), spends a lot of time on forensic facial reconstructions. In 2006, he received a request from the Vasa Museum in Stockholm to reconstruct a pair of the most intact skulls from the historic ship.
SKELETON: One of the remains that came to light when the warship was raised in 1961. Photo: REX/NTB Show more
– In the 1980s, expert analyzes were carried out by osteologists. It was difficult to detect gender at that time. They usually went for the masculinity of the skeleton, says Nilsson.
Short man with back pain
He explains that one skeleton was believed to be a short man of 160 centimeters. Probably the ship’s shortest crew member. The age was estimated to be around 45 years. He was named Gustav.
GUSTAV: The remains showed that the person was only 160 centimeters tall. Photo: Oscar D. Nilsson Show more
– The skeleton showed signs of a lot of wear and tear. He had obviously worked a lot on his body, which resulted in a bad back. This is because the person has lifted heavily and twisted at the same time. It was a big load that had damaged the spine, says Nilsson.
He paints a picture of a man who has lived a hard life, despite his young age.
U-turn
But a lot has happened with DNA technology since the 80s. Four years ago, the new methods were tested on the ancient skeletons.
Last year, Nilsson received another phone call from the Vasa Museum.
– They wondered if I could reconstruct Gustav again. It was a lady, he says.
Gustav became Gertrude. A popular and common name in Stockholm in the 17th century, explains Nilsson.
GERTRUDE: The woman was probably with her husband on Vasa’s maiden voyage. Photo: Oscar D. Nilsson Show more
– What we know for sure about her is that she must have been married to one of the men on board. On the maiden voyage, the crew were allowed to bring their spouses along, says Nilsson.
Between 25 and 30 years
Gertrude, in the body of “Gustav”, had lived a demanding life which caused back problems. However, the age turned out to be wrong.
– We estimated that Gustav was 45 years old, but Gertrude’s DNA showed that she was between 25 and 30 years old when she went down with the ship.
He continues:
– The wear on the back also shows that she was probably not married to a man high in the system. It was probably a boatman who had brought his wife with him.
INTACT: Gertrude’s skull was salvaged from the ship in 1961. Photo: Oscar D. Nilsson Show more
The recent DNA result was also able to determine the woman’s skin and hair colour, as well as blue eyes.
– She was very Scandinavian with almost light blonde hair. The face was masculine.
In his finest clothes
When the Vasa was raised from the depths of the sea, several items of clothing belonging to the deceased were also found.
– They stored clothes in barrels. But clothes were also found that the people were wearing when they drowned.
In the place that became Gertrude’s final resting place, two garments were discovered that the woman probably wore on her maiden voyage.
A waist-short jacket with buttons, as well as a characteristic tall, red hat.
HEADGEAR: The tall hat was probably one of the most beautiful things you could wear at the time. Photo: Oscar D. Nilsson Show more
– At that time there were high and very impractical headgear. It can be reminiscent of a folk costume, says Nilsson. He explains that the hat was 55.5 centimeters in circumference, which fits Gertrude’s skull.
– She was probably dressed in her finest clothes. The maiden voyage was probably the most solemn moment of her life. But it was also her last.
One of Norway’s oldest
Nilsson, who has worked with reconstruction since 2001, got his first assignment in Norway at the end of last year.
An 8,300-year-old boy, who was found by archaeologists back in 1907, got a “new” face.
THE LOST BOY: This face belongs to a 15-year-old who stayed at a cave outside Stavanger 8,300 years ago. Photo: Oscar Nilsson Show more
The Stone Age boy, called Vistegutten, was probably 15 years old. He was found in a cave nine meters deep and was only 125 centimeters tall.
– He is one of Norway’s oldest skeletal finds. The boy was very intact, says Nilsson.
Now he hopes for more assignments in Norway.
– The Scandinavian Stone Age is incredibly exciting.
2023-07-10 21:01:36
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