Robots clash with a ghost ship lurking at the bottom of a lake for 700 years.

(NLĐO) - During a survey of the bottom of Lake Mjøsa, the Norwegian army discovered a 10-meter-long ghost ship, largely buried in the sediment.

According to Live Science , the ghost ship was accidentally discovered by an underwater autonomous device in 2022 during a survey aimed at mapping the bottom of Lake Mjøsa for the Norwegian military.

The images captured by this robot quickly attracted the attention of scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

However, several obstacles arose, and it wasn't until October 2024 that the research team was able to survey the location of the ghost ship, using a remote-controlled device attached to the research vessel.

A section of the ghost ship is exposed from the sediment - Photo: NTNU

Preliminary findings indicate that the ghost ship lies at a depth of 400 meters and is a type of "føringsbåt" vessel that locals used centuries ago to transport passengers and goods.

Bad weather prevented the research team from deploying the sampling robot, so the exact age of this ghost ship remains undetermined.

Nevertheless, based on its design, scientists estimate the ghost ship could be up to 700 years old, or a few centuries "younger".

NTNU scientists during a survey trip in October - Photo: NTNU

The føringsbåt boats in Norway have flat bottoms, making them unsuitable for open seas, but they are very convenient for navigating the area.

The recently discovered føringsbåt was built with a vertical stern, a feature only seen after the 1300s and which is what helped scientists estimate its age. Earlier Viking ships were similar at both ends.

The images also show what appears to be a central rudder at the stern of the ship, which is also a distinguishing feature from Viking ships of the Ruler period.

This ghost ship was built with wooden planks covering a frame in the traditional Scandinavian style of that era and was about 10 meters long.

Lake Mjøsa is the largest lake in Norway and is located about 100 km north of the capital Oslo.

This lake is very deep and covers an area of ​​over 360 square kilometers, but only a few square kilometers of its bottom have been mapped.

This was an important trade route between many prosperous communities along the lake's shores, at least since the 8th century.

The area where the ghost shipwreck is located has strong currents, posing a major obstacle to research.

However, scientists affirm that they will continue to explore the area and implement further measures to better understand the ship, which may reflect a glimpse into the region's ancient history.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/robot-dung-do-tau-ma-an-nap-700-nam-duoi-day-ho-196241121111720115.htm