Abstract:Late medieval forecastles are prominent in iconography but remain poorly understood in archaeological terms because their supporting structures are seldom preserved. This paper reassesses forecastle timbers from the royal warship Griffin (Gribshunden, 1495) and identifies an additional timber belonging to the carved figurehead beam raised in 2015. Combined with the previously recovered section, the element can be reconstructed as a longitudinal member more than 9.5 m long. In conjunction with neighbouring timbers, this beam serves as a key diagnostic indicator for reconstructing the vessel’s forecastle. The evidence permits a preliminary evidence-based estimate of the size, layout, and construction of the Griffin forecastle, indicating a substantial elevated platform designed for naval warfare practices. The study thus highlights the value of continued research on the superstructure of the warship and provides a new comparative framework for understanding forecastles on other late medieval and early modern wrecks. This preprint has not undergone peer review. Later versions may contain revisions. Please cite this version until a peer-reviewed version becomes available.
Rolf Christian Axel Wibroe Fabricius Warming (Thu,) studied this question.