Marine archaeologists have made a significant discovery off South Australia’s coast, uncovering the Koning Willem de Tweede wreck in Guichen Bay near Robe. Announced on 7 May 2025, the find marks the end of a 168-year mystery since the ship was lost on 30 June 1857. The vessel, preserved beneath the seabed, provides a window into 19th-century maritime trade and migration, particularly during Australia’s gold rush era. The Koning Willem de Tweede, an 800-tonne Dutch merchant sailing ship, was a three-masted barque designed for long-distance trade. On its final voyage, it carried 374 Chinese passengers from Hong Kong to Melbourne,…
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Archaeologists in Varberg, Sweden, have discovered six historical shipwrecks during investigations for the Varbergstunneln project. The finds, located near the original shoreline in southwest Sweden, range in age from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, offering new insights into the region’s maritime history. The discoveries were made by teams from the Bohuslän Museum, Visual Archaeology, and Cultural Environment Halland, as part of preparatory work for the tunnel construction. The shipwrecks were found in an area historically significant for maritime activity, close to Varberg’s coastline. The vessels vary in age, with some dating back to the medieval period, providing a…