Twelve well-preserved wrecks have been discovered in the Baltic Sea by a company laying a gas pipeline.
The wheel of a sailing ship dating from the 18th or 19th Centuries
A 19th-century sailing ship's figurehead
The wrecks, one of which could be 800 years old, were discovered to the east of the Swedish island of Gotland between 100m-130m deep.
Peter Norman of Sweden's National Heritage Board said the wrecks looked 'very well preserved'. The Baltic Sea is free from ship worm that destroys wooden wrecks in saltier oceans. As well as the medieval wreck, some of the wrecks could date from the 17th and 19th Centuries.
Nord Stream Consortium, who is building the pipeline, says it will avoid damaging the wrecks during the construction.
