Index Archaeology Research Wreck Finds Medieval site in Nauvo The research of the wreck The research work in 2003

The research work in 2003

In 2003, a brief fieldwork session was organized at the medieval site in June when the researchers from the Maritime Museum were in the waters of Nauvo for the field research of Vrouw Maria. The head of the fieldwork was researcher Riikka Alvik.

The aim of the fieldwork of 2003 was to finish documenting the church bell and those items that were next to the bell. In addition, the church bell was to be raised. Researchers wanted to examine the type of the bell and the composition of the metal. Possible decorations on the bell were to be looked at as well. For now, this bell is one of the oldest preserved church bells in Finland.

Special equipment was needed to raise the church bell: a ship with a hoist and a large lifting cage that could be opened from one side. The bell was placed in the cage underwater and then lifted by the help of a lifting bag. Then the hoist raised the bell on the deck of the ship where it was placed in a case with padding filled with water. The cage was brought in the conservatory laboratory of the Maritime Museum. Next to the bell on the sea bottom there were approximately dozen ceramics dishes and pieces of them that were documented and raised.

In 2003, the research team got a grant of 15 000 euros from the Finnish Cultural Foundation. The award was used mainly for making different analyses and improving the techniques of underwater documenting, especially the use of the underwater positioning system Aqua Metre D100.