Martwa Wisła: they will excavate the wreck of an 18th-century brothel

Almost two years ago we reported on a unique findwhich was made during the dredging of waterways and reconstruction of a part of the wharf on the Motława and Martwa Wisła Rivers. Employees of the Polish Maritime Museum in Gdańsk came across two wrecks, one of which turned out to be a real treat.

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Researchers from the Gdansk museum came across the so-called burdyna during their work. The found wreck is an extremely valuable specimen from the point of view of the history of boatbuilding art. Together with the bourdyna another wreck was found and it was assumed that both vessels sank as a result of a collision. This thesis collapsed when, while exploring the area nearby, the remains of other boats were found.

The wreck in question is 23m long, 7m wide and 3m high. Preparations are currently underway to fish out this valuable find. Researchers do not exclude the possibility that it will be necessary to re-fish the wreck in order to lift it.

“We have discovered two more wrecks. One of them lies 70 m away from the others, so it is difficult to assume that four vessels collided here and one of them sank nearby. Thanks to the research we may be able to solve this mystery,” reports Waldemar Ossowski from the CMM in Gdańsk

At one time burdyny were a very popular means of unloading ships visiting the port of Gdańsk. In Gdańsk itself there was even a Brotherhood of Burdyniarzy, gathering people responsible for the unloading of goods, but despite its popularity, none of them has survived to our times. What is more, for those researching the development of boatbuilding art, the burdyna is still a little known object as we do not even have any plans, drawings or sketches of it.

Photo: Polish Maritime Museum
Source: trojmiasto.pl