Preserving significance

How to go about preserving and displaying a shipwreck such as the Peeter Cog? That’s where I left off in my last post. So how about it?

The wreck must first be considered as a conservation challenge – how to preserve and display such a complicated artifact of some 700 years of age? It wasn’t waterlogged but quite dry, which makes a huge difference conservation-wice, something we definitely must discuss later on in great detail in this blog. 

Nevertheless, active conservation was needed. How to stabilize and strengthen the hull? What kind of a supporting structure will be needed in the final location, how about environmental conditions? How’s the decision-making process involving material science and utilization of latest documentation methods? These are all aspects we’re totally fascinated about and convinced that you, dear reader, will find of interest as well.

After all, museum work is not just what you see in exhibitions. There’s so much happening “behind the scenes” without which no exhibition would be possible. This is something we’d like to shed light on through this blog. And it’s not only preservation of physical materials but documentation and presentation through modern digital means, which is something we’re already very committed in providing throughout this fascinating Cog-project.

Furthermore, within this blog we’ll delve deep into the significance of this find. Why is such a cog on importance to us, right now and in the future? This truly deserves thorough discussions. 

Having said that, we at FOG think that Cog is among the most significant ship types of the Baltic Sea area. The Hanseatic League was an actor of huge importance at the time and should be highlighted today as a precursor of an effective trade network. The Peeter Cog displayed in a museum will be a cognitive anchor for present day Estonians and Europeans for realizing historical continuums and geographical networks.

Reason enough to conserve and display this wreck, don’t you think?