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DNA analysis reveals what the people on the warship Vasa from 1628 looked like

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:24:00 +0200

More pieces of the puzzle have been put in place to offer a better picture of the people on board Vasa when the ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. Researchers now know the hair colour and eye colour of the individual known as ‘G’ and can also give an indication about how she dressed.

“Based on new DNA analyses, we have concluded that the individual we call ‘G’ most likely had light hair, blue eyes and a light skin tone,” says Marie Allen, professor of forensic genetics at Uppsala University. Dr Allen performed the analyses in collaboration with Dr Kimberly Andreaggi of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System’s Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFMES-AFDIL) in the United States.

“It’s possible today to get a lot of information through DNA analysis, such as sex and appearance,” continues Dr Allen, who together with Dr Andreggi earlier this spring revealed that skeleton G was not a man but a woman. “You can even see if the person had wet or dry ear wax, was lactose intolerant or liked coriander.”

The new research results have already taken on practical significance. Oscar Nilsson, an archaeologist and a sculptor, has created an updated facial reconstruction of individual G.

“I’m glad I now know that G is a woman, as well as what her eye colour and hair colour are,” Nilsson says. “Still, the reconstruction is my own interpretation of this person. Now it feels like I’ve gotten much closer to her – especially when her cap came into place. It really moved me to see her in her cap. It was like standing right in front of her on 10 August 1628. She has dressed up for this journey.”

The cap in question was recreated by Anna Silwerulv, costume and textile researcher at the Vasa Museum. She and Nilsson have collaborated closely on the reconstruction that the researchers have begun to call ‘Gertrud’.

“Parts of a woollen cap have been found near G’s skeleton,” Silwerulv says. “It really sparked my interest. Could it have been hers? The model seemed a little odd at first, but when I reconstructed it, the pieces fell into place. The size matched, and I also found blonde hairs in the fabric. I think we’ve found the answer. Under the microscope, you can clearly see that the cap was red.”

Silwerulv continues: “Taking an interdisciplinary approach like this creates a more complete picture. The DNA tests give us the hard facts. Recreating the clothes is yet another vital part of understanding who these people were. They become individuals when we get to know them.”

Researchers at the Vasa Museum are both studying the skeletons more extensively – through methods like osteological and isotope analyses – and examining personal belongings to find out more about the people who were on board Vasa. The DNA of the skeletons is still being studied, and Dr Allen of Uppsala University and Dr Andreaggi of AFMES-AFDIL will eventually present even more results from their genetic analyses.

“We’ll be able to say more about several of the people on Vasa,” Allen says. “Right now, we’re looking at different types of information that we can obtain from their nuclear DNA. It’s nice to get to know them a little better as we get new results.”

For further information and images, please contact:
Catrin Rising, Communications Manager, Vasa Museum
Mobile: +46 737-35 16 02
E-mail: catrin.rising@smtm.se

The warship Vasa to be supported with Swedish steel from Alleima

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:08:00 +0100

The warship Vasa is on the move. While the movements are very small, they could have enormous consequences over time. At the same time, the ship’s wood has weakened. The solution is to build a completely new support structure, a more advanced and durable structure that will protect the ship against the deformations currently caused by the ship’s own weight and natural movements. But that is not enough. This is why an internal support, in the form of a steel skeleton, is being installed in the ship.

“The internal support will run from the keel all the way up to the upper deck. It will help bear the loads from the deck and deck beams to slow the downward movement of the hull. To do this, the skeleton needs to be made of a material that is both strong and lightweight,” says Magnus Olofsson, Project Manager of Support Vasa.

The internal steel skeleton will be built as a truss with tubes. This solution stabilises the hull, slows down the ship’s movements and distributes the load. Among other benefits, the collaboration with Alleima allows the internal skeleton to be lighter thanks to the use of a special steel developed by Alleima.

The support structure is made of an advanced stainless steel with exceptional strength and very high resistance to corrosion: SAF™ 2507 super-duplex, produced in Sandviken.

“Alleima’s advanced stainless steel and speciality alloys are found in the world’s most demanding environments and applications. It has superior strength, which means that less material is needed, reducing the weight of the steel skeleton. Its corrosion resistance allows the material to come into direct contact with the ship without rusting. In addition, it is produced using fossil-free electricity and consists of 80 percent recycled steel. This not only helps in the preservation of Vasa, but also reduces environmental impact,” says Tom Eriksson, Head of Research at Alleima.

“We are proud to be part of ensuring that Vasa is preserved for the future. This historic project reflects our commitment to innovation, sustainability and Swedish cultural heritage. The project is unique in both implementation and procurement, and illustrates the power of long-term partnerships between the business community and cultural institutions,” says Elja Nordlöf, Director of Communications at Alleima.  

In summary, the new support structure will ensure that the warship Vasa is supported in order to slow down movements in the hull, minimise the risk of crack formation, and ensure that it retains its existing shape. All so that the ship can be preserved far into the future. The complex work was preceded by more than ten years of research and advanced testing.

“Thanks to the unique properties of the material and the materials expertise available at Alleima, there will be less damage to Vasa’s hull. One estimate is that we only need to drill about half as many holes in the hull as would otherwise have been necessary. This is incredibly important to us from a preservation perspective,” says Magnus Olofsson.

FACT BOX – THE SUPPORT VASA PROJECT

The support structure that has been holding Vasa since the 1960s needs to be replaced, as it is damaging the ship and causing deformations in the hull. This is due to the weakening of the ship’s wood. The entire support structure is being replaced over a number of years. Construction began in April 2024.

The 17 external braces currently in place will be replaced with 27 cradles, with a joint under the keel. This will result in the ship being supported at a greater number of points compared to today. Once everything is complete, the external support will be supplemented with an internal support, similar to a skeleton. The internal support will run from the keel all the way up to the upper deck. It will help bear the loads from the deck and deck beams to slow down the movements in the hull. Alleima is sponsoring the Vasa Museum with all the steel needed for the internal support.

With the specialised knowledge and special alloy that Alleima brings to the project, the collaboration makes it possible to produce an internal skeleton that is lighter than originally envisaged.

The sponsorship collaboration between the Vasa Museum and Alleima has been procured under the Swedish Public Procurement Act, and will last for five years.

For further information, pictures and videos, please contact:
Catrin Rising, Communications Officer for the Support Vasa project
Telephone: 0737-35 16 02
E-mail: catrin.rising@smtm.se

New discoveries at the Vasa wreck site following recent dives

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:56:00 +0100

Under the direction of maritime archaeologists from Vrak – Museum of Wrecks, a series of advanced investigations have been conducted in the so-called Vasa Pit— the site where Vasa sank in 1628. Among the finds are log anchors, barrel fragments, a timber piece that may have belonged to a crow’s nest, and a rounded object with what appears to be a mouth.

“The object with the mouth lies silently on the seabed, about 30 metres down, and it’s definitely something we want to look at more closely,” says Jim Hansson, maritime archaeologist at Vrak and project manager for the investigations. “We’re eager to learn more about these objects and carry out further analysis. In particular, we hope to recover and analyse the piece that may be part of a crow’s nest.”

A crow’s nest from the bowsprit?
A crow’s nest is a platform mounted high on a ship’s mast and is used as a work station for sailors. Fred Hocker, head of research at the Vasa Museum, says that the shape of the timber piece recently found in the Pit closely resembles the internal structure of such platforms.

“This could be a part of the crow’s nest that was once on Vasa’s bowsprit, so it’s a significant discovery,” says Hocker. “Neither the bowsprit nor the crow’s nest that was attached to it has been recovered, so this find can offer valuable insights into how the original was designed.”

The next step in the search for Vasa’s missing parts
It’s clear that the great puzzle of Vasa is still incomplete — but the newly discovered pieces may help fill in some of the gaps.

“We now hope to explore the area further and locate additional parts of the ship that are still missing,” says Jenny Lind, director of the Vasa Museum. “With the 400th anniversary of Vasa coming up in 2028, it would be wonderful to have recovered more of these lost objects by then.”

The latest investigations at the Pit have taken place in three phases. First, geophysical mapping was carried out using Stockholm University’s research vessel R/V Electra, which employed advanced sonar technology to produce a detailed 3D image of the seabed.

This was followed by an underwater survey using an ROV — an underwater robot — deployed in collaboration with the Swedish Navy and their vessel HMS Belos. Finally, maritime archaeologists from Vrak examined the site and its finds during a series of dives.

“When we dive, we can detect things that technology simply can’t reveal,” says Jim Hansson.

“And there’s no substitute for the human eye and hand when it comes to verifying discoveries, examining objects and understanding how they were used. Thanks to these investigations, we now have a more complete picture of the Vasa shipwreck site than ever before. We can even trace all the movements the ship made before it was finally raised. These are, quite literally, the footprints of the Vasa ship!”

For further information, pictures and videos, please contact:
Jim Hansson,
Maritime archaeologist at Vrak and project manager for the investigations
Telephone: + 46 70 929 95 69
E-mail: jim.hansson@smtm.se

HM King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden becomes patron of the Support Vasa project at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 17:44:00 +0100

The project is one of the most extensive in the history of the Vasa Museum and aims to safeguard the future of the warship Vasa for generations to come. In the years leading up to 2028, which marks 400 years since Vasa sank on its maiden voyage in Stockholm, advanced work will be carried out to replace the support structure that currently helps stabilise the ship. The work to put this new support structure in place is the biggest challenge that the Vasa Museum has undertaken since the salvaging and conservation of the ship.

“We consider it a great honour and joy that HM The King has agreed to serve as patron of Support Vasa. The King’s support means very much to the Vasa Museum and to everyone working to preserve the ship, which is an art treasure and a unique piece of cultural heritage,” says Jenny Lind, Director of the Vasa Museum.

As royal patron, HM The King will follow the project’s progress and participate in selected events during the course of the work.

“The Support Vasa project is a historic initiative that combines research, technology and craftsmanship to preserve the ship for the future. The fact that HM The King has chosen to serve as patron gives the project special weight and national significance,” concludes Jenny Lind.

THE SUPPORT VASA PROJECT
The support structure that has been holding the warship Vasa since the 1960s needs to be replaced, as it is damaging the ship and causing deformations in the hull. This is due to the weakening of the ship’s wood. The entire support structure will be replaced over the course of several years. The construction started in April 2024.

The 17 pairs of external cradle elements currently in place will be replaced with 27 ultra-modern cradles with a joint under the keel. This will result in the ship being supported at a greater number of points compared to today. Once everything is complete, the external support will be supplemented with an internal support, similar to a skeleton. The internal support will help bear the loads from the decks and beams to slow down the movements in the hull.

For more information, please contact:
Tora Larsdotter Stefansson, Communications Officer
E-mail: tora.larsdotterstefansson@statensmuseermtf.se
Tel: +46 8 519 549 08