Cursed Shipwreck Yields Treasure and Human Remains | National Geographic

For 450 years, no one knew where the Swedish warship Mars, named for the Roman god of war, sank in the Baltic Sea. The largest vessel of its time went down in a fierce battle in 1564 with more than 800 people aboard. Its discovery in 2011 yielded an astonishingly well-preserved ship, including the seamen who went down with it.

About National Geographic:
National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Get More National Geographic:

Legend has it that the ship was cursed because its cannons were made using metal from melted-down church bells.

Read more about the Mars and its legend:

Learn more about the Mars discovery and the project to study it:

SENIOR PRODUCER: Jeff Hertrick
INTERVIEW VIDEOGRAPHER: Ingemar Lundgren
UNDERWATER VIDEOGRAPHY: Ocean Discovery and Deep Sea
UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY: Tomasz Stachura
EDITOR: Jennifer Murphy

Cursed Shipwreck Yields Treasure and Human Remains | National Geographic

National Geographic

[frankdawe]

It's absolutely amazing how the cold northern waters keep these wrecks so well preserved!

[felixcat]

I love how the temperature of the water and other factors (salinity?) have kept the wreck free from subsea growths and organisms which invariably cover every square millimetre of wrecks, giving a clear and unhindered sight of the wreck in it's astonishing detail!

This truly is a remarkable time capsule for divers, marine archaeologists, historians and others with a personal or professional interest in this wreck and it's state of preservation.

Thank you for this fascinating insight into this intriguing wreck!

[joelkreiner]

It's crazy to see the bones, knowing that no one ever knew who they were, nor will they ever.

[para]

Fascinating history. When will loud background music be eliminated on such informative episodes?

[Mike-jvcl]

The most ironic thing is that those are the bodies of ppl who were born while Henry VIII was alive 😮

[felixcat]

This wreck is in an utterly fantastic condition of preservation, and it's possible to see crystal clear details which one wouldn't expect to still be visible!

The interviewee was correct when he said that the wreck was a time machine, and I hope to see a much longer documentary on this magnificent vessel.

Edited to say that in gold coins alone, the ship's cargo is currently worth 2.86 Billion Euros!

This exceeds the 660 Million Euros value of the 20 Tons of gold ingots carried on the sunken Japanese I-400 Submarine whose intact wreck has been found!

[terryrussel]

The only other sunken ships I have ever seen in this kind of condition after hundreds of years have been in cold, deep, Fresh water graves. Wow.

[Soulessdeeds]

Don't feel bad that no one today will ever know the names of many of these men. Because they died with men who did know who they were. They were brothers in arms and brothers in the next world. There is a bond soldiers have for each other that often stronger than actual family. These men fought and died for their homeland and for each other. Incredible condition of that wreck and the first time I have ever seen actual canons still coming out of gun ports of a old sailing ship like this. Its incredible to see how well preserved it is. I would love to see some of the canons recovered and conserved. I bet they are glorious.

[MariaGarcia]

A moment in the past suspended in time, eerie

[jimmyrice]

Fascination with this great ship wreck has brought a about some actual event that transpired during the moment that occurred in battle long long ago.

[scottmitchen]

A short segment on a great shipwreck lost at sea. Very cool!

[Hotsoup_]

It always makes me sad to hear about hundreds of sailors going down with their ship

[terrandroid]

so when can I expect a 2 hour documentary

[thaddeusmcgrath]

No rest in peace here, history prevails long after the dead and the loved ones are gone.

[fredted]

When treasure is found, greed ensues.

[timhorton]

Fascinating wreck, thanks for posting!

[terrandroid]

absolutely amazing, what a beautiful ship but such a dramatic ending. it's very good preserved, really a time machine.

[crazybutcool]

Very interesting. Wish there was a longer documentary showing the recovery efforts of everything.

[civillady]

That is a gravesite really, not just an interesting wreck. Those were real people with real lives.

I hope everyone keeps that in mind.

[jasonb]

What an amazing short clip the preservation is incredible I hope there is a full arciological survey and recording of the ship and crew I would love to watch that as would many people I garentee 👍🏼🇬🇧