Fingerprint on a 2400-Year-Old Boat: What the Find Tells About Ancient Warriors.

According to ТСН: Scientists have made a unique discovery on the oldest known wooden boat in Scandinavia – a fingerprint of a person who lived over 2400 years ago. This boat, known as Hjortspring, sank off the coast of modern Denmark during a failed pirate attempt in the pre-Roman Iron Age.

The ship, which is now on display at the National Museum of Denmark, is associated with a large attack of about 80 pirates on the island of Als in the 4th century BC. The attackers suffered a defeat, and the locals sank the boats along with their weapons and shields as an offering. Thanks to the boggy conditions and low oxygen levels, the wood of the ship remained in excellent condition for centuries.

New Research and Discoveries

New research was made possible by reviewing archival materials: archaeologists found fragments of tar and ropes that had escaped chemical preservation. On one of the tar pieces was a clear fingerprint – presumably from a person who was repairing or sealing the boat. The researchers described this find as a direct physical connection to the ancient seafarers.

Chemical analysis revealed that the sealant consists of a mixture of animal fat and pine resin. This indicates that the boat was likely built in an area with dense pine forests. This conclusion changes the old notion of the ship's origin from the area of modern Hamburg and instead points to the coast of the Baltic Sea, likely east of Rügen.

Further Research Plans

The radiocarbon analysis of the ropes confirmed that the boat dates back to the period between 381 and 161 BC. This is the first clear dating that has been done from the materials of the ship itself. The researchers point out that if the hypothesis about the Baltic origin of the raiders is correct, they covered a significant distance over open sea.

In the future, scientists plan to attempt to isolate human DNA from the tar. This could provide new insights into the origin and lives of Iron Age sea warriors and help develop a better understanding of ancient maritime conflicts and trade relations in Northern Europe.

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This find is extremely important for understanding the history of seafaring in Scandinavia. The fingerprint gives us a unique connection to the ancient people who used these boats. Further research could uncover even more secrets about their lives and habits.