One of the most important archaeological finds in Europe this year, a remarkably well-preserved ship dating back 700 years, was unearthed at a construction site in Tallinn, Estonia, situated on the Baltic Sea coast. The ship was discovered five feet (1.5 meters) underground near the port of Tallinn, very close to the former mouth of the Härjapea River, which no longer exists.

The 80-foot-long ship is made of oak logs and sealed with animal hair and tar. According to the initial dedrochrological analysis (the study of tree growth rings in relation to time), the records date from the year 1298.

Scientists say the ship joined the Haseatic League, a medieval trade and defense co-federation of the merchants and trailer market of central and later Europe.

The Haseatic League began in the 14th century and included the Netherlands, Fila, Denmark, and Latʋia.

“800 years ago we had almost two meters of water here,” the archaeologist in charge of the site, Mihkel Taмet, told British newspaper The Metro.

“There were much shallower saltwater ridges that were difficult to map because they changed their shape and location due to ice drifts and storms,” he explained.

“Our ship was built on these ridges under the sediments. It is said near the mouth of the Härjapea river.

It is rare to find these types of boats that are still in excellent condition. The last time this happened was in 1962, when the Bree Cog was discovered in Germany.

However, archaeologist Mihkel Tamet said the carefully discovered wreck was in better condition than his new discovery.

“We have obtained wool material used for packaging, we have also obtained some tools and fragments of medieval leather shoes. Excavations are underway and we hope to find more,” Taet said, adding that the entire area had offices under water.

“This area was still under the sea in the 18th century. 800 years ago we had almost two meters of water here.

There were much shallower saltwater ridges that were difficult to map because they changed their shape and location due to ice drifts and storms.

Our ship was built on these ridges under the sediments. It is said near the mouth of the Härjapea river,” Tamet explained.

“Seeing the wreck, Tammet called Ragпar Nυrk, an archaeologist from the Talli city government.

Nυrk said the gear would take him to a new home,” reports the Daily Mail.

“The wreck will be removed from its current position to allow construction work to cooperate,

Currently, there are two main options: you will go to the maritime museum or the shipwreck conservation area on the Naissaar island of Talli Bay.

Unfortunately, the size and restricted construction conditions do not allow us to move the ship away from the part,” Tamet said.