India & Denmark Launch Joint Archaeological Mission To Find 17th Century Danish Ship Oresund

The Underwater Archaeology Wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Museum of Denmark’s Njord Center for Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly search for the first Danish ship to ever reach India, the Oresund, which was wrecked near Karaikal, Puducherry, in 1619 CE.

This is the first time that India’s Underwater Archaeology Wing is working on a project with an international organisation.

Locating the 17th-century ship would enable historians to understand early trade relations between Denmark and India and the wider history of seafaring and maritime commerce.

Experts at both institutions argue that the project would help shed light on the commercial networks connecting Europe and Asia during the period marked by expanding colonial maritime and trade ventures.

According to the MOU, the project will focus on carrying out non-invasive archaeological surveys using advanced tech and scientific methods to identify and document the location and the remains of the shipwreck to support further research.

The partnership is expected to improve research capabilities, facilitate knowledge exchange, and strengthen India-Denmark cooperation and ties.

Speaking on the occasion, ASI Director General Shri Yadubir Singh Rawat said that the agreement would strengthen academic and institutional ties between India and Denmark.

Denmark’s first trading post in India came up in 1620, a year after the Oresund had sunk at Tranquebar, at today’s Tharangambadi in Tamil Nadu.

The fort has now been converted into a museum and is a famous tourist destination in the city.