UNDERSTANDING VASA
Fred Hocker, VASA Museum, Stockholm
courtesy Kurt Van Dahm, NRG
In 2003, the
National Maritime Museums of Sweden initiated a project called
“Förstå Vasa” (Understanding Vasa), with the goal of producing a
comprehensive scientific publication of the ship and its associated
finds in their full historical, technological, political, economic
and social context. The publication is planned as a series of
monographs in 10x12 inch format, 300-500 pages in each of seven
volumes. Each volume treats a different aspect of the find, and will
be copiously illustrated with drawings and photographs in both black
and white and color. The seven volumes as currently planned are
(exact order of the last four is not yet fixed):
I. Archaeology – this will present the background story of the ship,
its loss and attempted salvage, followed by a detailed presentation
of the discovery, raising and archaeological excavation of the
interior. The lead author is Carl Olof Cederlund, one of the
archaeological team leaders when the ship was raised in 1961.
II. Seamanship – this will present the remains of the rigging (which
includes the lower masts, tops, several yards, six of the ship’s ten
original sails, and a mass of rope, blocks, deadeyes, euphroes,
etc.) followed by a detailed reconstruction of how the ship was
rigged and sailed. Several sheets of drawings at 1:50 and 1:100
scale will be included. The lead author is Olof Pipping, a
professional square-rig mariner and rigger, who re-rigged the lower
masts of the ship in the 1990’s.
III. The Machine of War – this will discuss the strategic and
tactical background to the decision-making process that resulted in
this ship with this armament, followed by a presentation of the
archaeological remains of the armament and an analysis of their
potential effectiveness, as well as an assessment of their place in
the development of the multi-decked line-of-battle warship. The lead
author is Jan Glete, professor of history at Stockholm University
and an expert on the Swedish navy of the 17th century.
IV. An Economic Engine – this will look at the economic factors
affecting the construction and operation of the ship, including the
organization of the shipyard in which it was built, the acquisition
of the raw materials, the recruiting, training, feeding and
maintenance of the crew, etc.
V. The King’s Beautiful Ship – this will present and examine the
construction and outfitting of the hull, as well as the design
methods used to develop the hull shape, and the possibilities of
changes while the ship was under construction. It will include a
large set of drawings (probably 30 or more sheets) at 1:50 scale as
well as numerous details. Lead author will be Fred Hocker.
VI. A Maritime Community – this will look at the crew, both as
individuals and as a social group. The human remains (skeletons of
15 people) will be presented, along with the personal possessions
found with them or in their sea chests, and other finds relevant to
how they functioned as a community. Hocker will be lead author.
VII. From Royal Symbol to National Icon – this will examine the
symbolic role for which the ship was intended, through both its
imposing size and armament and its sculptural program, in the
context of the language of princely power in the 17th century. It
will also examine the modern development of Vasa as an international
symbol for Sweden and an iconic presence in Swedish culture. Lead
author to be chosen.
The first volume is expected to appear in the fall of this year,
with other volumes following at approximately one-year intervals,
although this is subject to funding, etc. (For all those Shipwrights
looking to build a Vasa or who now own one, this would be worth
looking into – cost will likely put it out of the reach of the
private collection, but it may show up in a reference library
somewhere).