When people imagine shipwreck discoveries, they often think of gold coins, silver bars, or lost cargo. But some wrecks have revealed artifacts far rarer than treasure—objects so unusual that they have turned ordinary wrecks into legendary archaeological sites. According to findings documented by maritime archaeologists and historians, these discoveries range from ancient food to advanced scientific devices that reshaped our understanding of history.
17th-Century Cheese Preserved Underwater
One of the most surprising discoveries came from the wreck of the Kronan, a Swedish warship that sank in 1676 during a naval battle against a Danish-Dutch fleet. While exploring the nearly 300-year-old wreck, divers discovered a sealed tin containing cheese.
When brought to the surface, the cheese was still pungent. Divers described its smell as similar to yeast mixed with Roquefort and strongly advised against tasting it. Since the ship’s discovery in 1980, archaeologists have recovered more than 30,000 artifacts from the Kronan, making it one of Sweden’s most important underwater archaeological sites.
A 500-Year-Old Sturgeon Fit for Royalty
Another extraordinary find came from the wreck of the Gribshunden, a Danish royal ship that sank in 1495 after catching fire in the Baltic Sea. Marine archaeologists discovered a barrel containing the remains of a large sturgeon—an animal now considered endangered.
Historical records indicate the six-foot fish was being transported as a luxury display item by Danish King Hans, who intended to impress the Swedish royal court while pursuing the Swedish throne. Thanks to the Baltic Sea’s unique preservative conditions, the fish remained remarkably intact after five centuries underwater.
The Legendary Atocha Emeralds
Among the most valuable shipwreck discoveries are the emeralds recovered from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. After more than 360 years underwater, treasure hunters located the wreck in 1985.
The recovery included around 70 pounds of emeralds and several tons of silver. One emerald weighed over 25.87 carats, and the total value of the treasure is estimated to exceed $400 million, making it one of the richest shipwreck finds in history.
The Antikythera Mechanism
Discovered in 1901 in a Roman shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera, this corroded bronze device puzzled scientists for decades. The ship sank in the first century BCE, but the technology found onboard was far ahead of its time.
Later research revealed that the Antikythera Mechanism was used to predict astronomical events such as eclipses, lunar phases, and planetary cycles. Many experts now consider it the world’s oldest known analog computer, fundamentally changing assumptions about ancient scientific knowledge.
200-Year-Old Beer with Living Yeast
One of the most unusual edible discoveries was made off the coast of Sydney, Australia, in the early 1990s. Marine archaeologists exploring the wreck of the Sydney Cove, a merchant ship that sank in 1797, found sealed glass bottles of beer.
The ship had been traveling from India to Port Jackson when severe weather caused it to sink. Analysis later revealed that the bottles still contained a rare yeast hybrid strain. In 2018, scientists and an Australian brewery successfully revived the yeast, producing a porter-style beer now sold locally—bringing an 18th-century flavor back to life.
Why These Finds Matter
These discoveries show that shipwrecks are more than sunken vessels—they are time capsules preserving human culture, science, and daily life. From ancient astronomy to royal delicacies and forgotten brewing techniques, underwater archaeology continues to reveal how much history still lies beneath the sea.
